The Cross as Love-
5) The Cross as a symbol of God's Love (John 3:16; John 15:13; Romans 5:8)
It is possible to sacrifice out of duty or a sense of law. But the love of God seen in the cross is never in doubt. The sacrifice of Christ was not just His calling- but He did it out of love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten (one and only) Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) God loved us so He sent His Son to die for us that might have life- and come to Him. So when many see the sacrifice of Christ to get us to heaven they see the first proposition of that verse- God so loved us.
For the last several years, this scenario has played out each year. A father rescues his child from dangerous rip currents, but drowns himself in the effort. June 20, 2023 47 year old Christopher Pierce of Alabama was able to save his daughter from the strong current in Panama City Beach, FL but in the effort gave himself. The news said that this "serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding warnings." But I think this misses the point, the father was willing to give himself out of love for his daughter. He did not have to try to rescue his child. We cannot miss the larger point that the cross was the willing sacrifice of Christ for us. Matthew 26:53 records Jesus' saying, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" In other words, Jesus could have escaped- but He remained on the cross willingly. He willed, out of love, His sacrifice for us.
The cross is an example of love- inspiring us to give of ourselves- to sacrifice for others. Jesus spoke about loving your neighbor as yourself and even loving your enemies- but the cross embodied those words. The words of love from Jesus were lived out on the cross. He even said of those crucifying Him, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Romans 5:8 says this clearly, "But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." It is not that we have great knowledge of God and that saves us. While we still sin, Christ's death still works for us. It is not that we are good- therefore God saves us. It is the grace of God that while we were yet sinners, He still came and died that we might have the opportunity to accept His gift of love and live.
"Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and gave Himself as a propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
Jesus Himself described His death on the cross as a gift of love: "Greater love has no one than this: that He lay down His life for His friends" (John 15:13). Jesus saw his death not only as a ransom (Mark 10:45) but also a gift of love. It is ironic that God could turn a terrible torture mechanism (the cross) into a symbol of His love. Most today, when they see the cross do not think of death but of life and the love of God. The cross is the symbol of God's gift of unconditional love- offered to all people- irrespective of what you look like, what you have, where you live, or even what you have done. It is a way to go from selfishness to love. The love of God is the greatest gift- and it is made clear by the cross.
The question is will we leave that gift unopened? Will we not see it or pretend it is irrelevant for me. Years ago I gave my children a trip to Disneyworld. It scraped the bottom of the bank account to send them, but I wanted them to have that experience. I put the note that they were going at the back of the Christmas tree. The children looked at their Christmas gifts and were unimpressed. But they didn't see the note wrapped as a gift in the back. The greatest gift we could possibly have is God's love. It means more than any trip, any thing. He sent His Son because He cares about us. But His Son's rescue out of love is the ultimate fulfilling of that love. The offer of His love is not automatic- we must believe in order to receive it ("Whosoever believes in Him"). This is not mean or unfair. On the contrary, to not appreciate the gift of God's love is indeed mean and unfair. We should accept the gift and believe in the power of it to give us life. Similarly, my children needed to believe that my note that was saying we were going to Disney was valid and would bring joy. We are called to not take God's gift of love for granted but to love Him in return and to want others to know that love- made evident in the cross.
Application: Accept the gift of love. Ask God to make it real for you and to forgive you of your sins. Look for ways to spread that love to others.
Prayer: Your love, O Lord, has the power to change me and to change the world around me. Help me to relish and cherish your love shown in the cross. May your love inspire more love in me.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul.
What wondrous love is this O my soul.
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
Anselm (d. 1109 Cur Deus Homo) was a great expounder of the cross as an example and means of the forgiveness of sins. He expounded well the idea of the Old Testament sacrifice climaxed and fulfilled in Jesus. John Leith rightly says that the church never let this alone be the meaning of the cross. Abailard (1079-1142) found Anselm's view incomplete and legalistic. Leith says, "For Abailard, the work of Christ was not the bearing of our sins so much as it was a manifestation of the outgoing love of God, which
lays hold of us and frees us from slavery to sin and wins for us the true liberty of children of God, so that we do all things out of love rather than fear" (Basic Christian Doctrine p.158). Anselm is more profound...but without Abailard's view the view of the cross is not complete. "This is the truth of the old evangelical way of describing salvation as coming to know Jesus."
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