Let's take a moment to ponder on the Cross upon which Christ died for us. The cross and its many implications has been the cornerstone of humanity’s hope from the very genesis of time. Whether it stood as a greatly anticipated act or as a symbol and representation of a past occurrence, the cross has and will always be a continuing call to all of humanity as it reaches to the depths of depravity and pulls man-kind from its grips. However, before one can even begin to contemplate the effectiveness of the cross, it is imperative to understand more about God and God in Christ in order to receive an adequate depiction as to why the cross even exists.
God, both ‘in being’ and ‘being in’ Christ, in no way compromises the divinity of God. God is God in such a way that God himself has the characteristic of humanity. Thus, the notion of God’s vary deity, includes his total and complete humanity.[i] This truth inexplicably links God with his creation and therefore makes the cross a necessity in order to bridge the gap between God and man, caused by sin. Furthermore, “the incarnation of God in Christ was nothing else than the incarnation of God in all men carried up to its superlative degree.”[ii] It is through this revelation that we see God make dramatic moves to show his creation his ultimate love. The book of Romans illustrates this point beautifully, wherein it says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8 NIV).
Thus, the symbol of splintered wood that stood on a hill so long ago, not only stands as an attractive centerfold for Christianity and the love that God has for humanity, but it also has important implications and ultimately, crucial ramifications for all people that the cross inherently addresses. The cross holds within its power a call and a challenge to live in obedience. Obedience? Obedience to what? Following after the cross demands obedience and allegiance to God and God’s Word in its absolute totality. Can we ever attain perfection on this side of eternity’s gates? Absolutely not! However, just because we adhere to the transcendence of a most high God, does not give man-kind the right to wrap up the talent that we have been given (in that of living a holy life) and bury it, accomplishing negative production in a life of various Christian disciplines and holiness.[iii] Thus summing it up in a word, the cross of Christ is forever standing as a ministry of reconciliation to the world. It is to this end that we are to be daily striving to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
[i] Eberhard Busch, Karl Barth; His Life from Letters and Autobiographical Texts (Philadelphia
[ii] Holmes Rolston, A conservative Looks to Barth and Brunner; An Interpretation of Barthian
Theology (Nashville, Tennessee: Cokesbury Press, 1934,) 102.
[iii] B.A. Willems, Karl Barth; An Ecumentical Approach to His Theology (Glen Rock, New Jersey
Paulist Press, 1965,) 59-61.
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