When we speak generally of the cross, as Christians we are referring to the death of Jesus 2,000 years ago. The Romans who meted out the sentence of death to Jesus practiced crucifixion. Crucifixion consisted of the hanging of the person on a wooden crossbeam affixed to a wooden pole. Suspended from the ground, the unfortunate soul would die from a combination of severe blood loss, shock and progressive suffocation. This death would commonly take several days.
It was an ignominious death from torture. It was a public spectacle, designed to deter conquered people, slaves, rebels and criminals. It seems a bit of a paradox for such an action and symbol to have such a precious meaning to any people. However, in the case of Jesus, the Roman crucifixion was God’s sin sacrifice, offered on the behalf of sinful man. It is the most important event in the history of mankind, as God’s plan for redeeming man was fulfilled in the shedding of the Christ’s blood on that cross.
A paradox is defined as a situation, person, or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities. This is certainly true of the cross of Christ. As we will consider a few of them described in scripture, it helps us understand God’s redemptive work and confirm our personal faith.
Curse and Blessing
Galatians 3 tells us that Jesus Christ became “a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hand on a tree’)” (13). The old law was a curse to the Jews, as they were condemned under it for their sins. But Jesus willingly took that sin upon Himself. A prophecy reveals what happened, “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Later Isaiah revealed, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief” as “an offering for sin” (10). Paradoxically, Jesus took this upon Himself, “that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (3:14).
Humiliation and Exaltation
The next paradox describes what happened to the Son of God Himself. The cross was the ultimate humiliation of Jesus. No one came to His defense, though He was without sin. Paul described God the Son who left heaven itself and God’s right hand to become a man. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). But because Jesus had accomplished God’s will through that humiliating death, Paul states the paradox in the very next verse. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:9-11).
Injustice and Mercy
As stated before, there was no sin in Jesus. Because of His sinlessness, His punishment was not just. In Acts 8, Philip read the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus, saying “In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation, for His life is taken from the earth” (33). While men showed Him no justice, Jesus death on the cross was an act of mercy. It characterized Jesus throughout His life on the earth. From the beginning of his ministry, until at the end He hung upon the tree, and told the penitent robber who hung by His side, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Rather than men, we are so glad that the One’s who will determine our place in eternity are Jesus and His Father (cf. Romans 8:33-34).
Hate and Love
Paradoxically, the cross represents both hate and love. First, the hatred of the world experienced by Jesus. He said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). As Jesus exposed their sin, we are told, “But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” (25). The hatred of men contrasts greatly with God’s love for mankind. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
Death and Life / Defeat and Victory
Perhaps the two greatest perceived paradoxes of the cross are death and life, and defeat and victory. It took Jesus death on the cross at Calvary to bring to His people sure and glorious life! “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Jesus’ defeat on the cross however, was only apparent. Men thought that they had won. “But all this was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled” (Matthew 26:56). It was always God’s plan to offer His son as a gift to man. Those who sought Christ’s death, though egregiously guilty, nevertheless aided in the accomplishment of God’s will. Peter said, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up…” (Acts 2:23-24a). Christ’s death ultimately is our victory as we accept Him as our Lord and Savior!
