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This article originally appeared in the April 2007 Gold Canyon Lifestyle

The Power ON the Cross

Those witnessing the crucifixion first-hand would not have been able to see anything different from this supposed criminal.  He struggled with pain like all the others.  He fought for every breath.  He winced in the heat just as every criminal had done - thirsty, exhausted, dying.  But this One was different.  He said things no one else ever uttered.  Statements in which He extended compassion for His mother, forgiveness for His torturers, a lesson for His fellow criminal, just to name a few, helped Him to stand out from the others.  But He hardly looked different – unless you look a little closer.

At first glance, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world looked like a lamb -helpless, defenseless, vulnerable and weak.  This Lamb, however, was exhibiting power, illustrating extreme strength, and most missed it.  This Lamb was doing something:  He was taking away sins.  He was defeating Satan and death.  He was knocking down barriers.  He was offering forgiveness.  He was reconciling sinners to a Holy God.  He was accepting the wrath of the Judge.  He was taking on your penalty.  He was sacrificing Himself for you sake.  He did all this on purpose.  He did all this by choice. 

We’ve heard of the power OF the Cross.  Jesus’ substitutionary death spanned eternity for all of humanity and saves those who believe and accept.  He gave His life up and that powerful act appeased God’s holiness for our sins.  However, many miss the fact that He was very powerful in dying as well.  He was not a helpless, vulnerable and weak lamb.  You see, Jesus doesn’t die unless Jesus wants to!

God the Father ordained the very cruel act against the Son.  Every hammer blow and blood-stained thorn was sovereignly planned by the Father.  Did the Jews kill Jesus?  Did the Romans kill Jesus?  Did my sins kill Jesus?  Yes, and no.  Did all of them just work, to every detail, according to God’s divine plan? Jesus hanging on the Cross reveals the power of the providence of God.  In Peter’s great prayer in Acts chapter 4, he states:  “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city (Jerusalem) to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”  Did you catch that?  They did what God’s power and will decided beforehand!  Later on, Paul would state that those who condemned Jesus fulfilled God’s Word (Acts 13:27).  They carried out ALL that was written about Jesus – in their hatred, anger and ignorance to God’s Word – actually fulfilled God’s Word.  The Lamb had to die and the Lamb wanted to die.  Because He loved you!   

The most incredible display of power was from Jesus Himself.  He breathed His last and no one killed Him, He took His own life.  He died of His own accord.  He took His own life – and that’s power.  But then He took His own life back again – now that’s awesome power!  John puts it this way:  Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life (I lay it down!) – only to take it up again (that’s power!).  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again…”(John 10:17-18) 

Continually think about the power of the Cross, all that Jesus has done for you.  But don’t miss the power ON the Cross as well.  His act, in the face of death and angry sinners was a sheer act of power.  It shows this:  one of the greatest things about the Easter love of Jesus is that He meant it!