The Cross

In his commentary on 1-2 Corinthians published by Cambridge University press, Dr. Craig S. Keener comments on 2 Corinthians 2 by stating, "The cross speaks death for those for whom the cross reveals nothing beyond itself." This statement is worth exploring in our current post-Christian culture. Many cannot see the cross as anything beyond an object.
In the first century, the cross was known as a device for the death penalty. The Apostle Paul rightly convinced people that for the Christian it is so much more than an object of punishment, torture, and death. Today, the cross might be nice jewelry or an inconsequential symbol for many. The cross is so much more! The cross is the sign that God is involved in our world. The cross is the symbol of God's love for all humanity. The cross is the path to reconciliation between us and the God who created us. The cross is the gift of grace from the One God who overwhelms us with love.
In this season of Lent, we must consider what the cross means for us. Is it just a standard and a cross beam or is it so much more? The cross should mean an abundance of things. Most importantly, it should point us to the overwhelming love of God. It should then lead us to our knees as we worship God for the grace bestowed. Then, it should inform our very lives. It should inform how we treat others, how we approach our families, how we care for the poor in our midst, how we vote, what we choose to do with our time and money, and so many other things. The cross should not be nothing beyond itself. The cross should mean everything to us!