The Cross was horrible and deadly. Over the years its significance has been trivialized—you’ll see cross trinkets everywhere now, including around the necks of people who aren’t taken at all by its importance. But crucifixion on a cross was practiced by the Romans who brutalized people in this form of execution.
The story of Jesus’ death, spoken of by the prophets and recorded in the Gospels, is a foundational doctrine of our faith, reminding us that Jesus died for our sins. It was His total commitment to us. “But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). When we accept that Jesus bore every ounce of God’s wrath for our every sin, we are made free and are welcomed as His children.
I love the words of the chorus, “This, the pow’r of the cross:/ Christ became sin for us;/ Took the blame, Bore the wrath—/ We stand forgiven at the cross.” Thank you, Jesus! Through His perfect life lived for us and His death on our behalf, we are reconciled to God and live for Him.