What is the significance of the cross of Christ? Many people wear the cross on necklaces around their necks…even secular music artists. I find myself wanting to ask them the question, “Why?”
For followers of Jesus Christ, the cross holds great significance. After all, it was on the cross that Jesus completed His mission of saving all mankind from the curse of sin, which is death and eternal separation from God. It was on the cross that Jesus actually became sin, taking on all the sins of the entire world from the beginning to the end of time. “He, himself, bore our sins in his body on the cross.” (1 Peter 2:24) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) It was on the cross that Jesus yelled, “tetelestai!” or “It is finished!” In Jesus’ time, the word “tetelestai” would have been written across a certificate of debt when the debt was remitted because “tetelestai” means paid in full! On the cross, our sin debt was PAID IN FULL!
Without the cross, there would be no forgiveness of sin. Without the cross, there would be no hope of eternal life with God after our earthly life is over. The cross of Christ is absolutely essential to all that is ours in Christ Jesus. It is through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that those who know Him and have surrendered their lives to Him have an eternal inheritance to look forward to.
So come to the cross, my friend, and lay down your burden of sin, shame, guilt and condemnation. Receive the gift of deliverance and eternal salvation that only Jesus can give you. He stands outside the door of your heart. Do you hear Him knocking? He is waiting for you to open the door and and invite Him to come in and make you new. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” When you sit down and eat with someone, you sit with them face to face and share the same food. It is a beautiful picture of knowing and being known. What are you waiting for? Fling open the door of your heart and run into the arms of Jesus and experience the freedom and peace that only He can give you as you journey through the rest of your life (here on earth and eternally) together.