Project Description

2016/01

The Cross:  A Failure?

Calvary is God’s masterpiece. It was no failure; it was the victory of Christ.

Did he really say it? And if he did, what did he mean? We refer to the controversy occasioned by one of Pope Francis’s homilies during his autumn visit to the USA. This is how it was reported: “The cross shows us a different way of measuring success. Ours is to plant the seeds. God sees to the fruits of our labours. And if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and not produce fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus Christ and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross” (Emphasis added). Roman Catholic apologists have been quick to highlight the words “humanly speaking” – after all, did not His own disciples view it so, forsaking Him and fleeing, with no real expectation of a victorious resurrection?

In truth, it matters not what Pope Francis actually meant that day in St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. The fact is, the Roman Catholic Church, by its teaching and practice, deems the cross work of Christ a failure! Why else would we have the blasphemous dogma of transubstantiation, a plethora of man-made ‘sacraments’, an endless round of penances and indulgences, the fantasy known as purgatory, et al – why, if the cross was sufficient to atone for sin?

Was the death of the Lord Jesus Christ a failure, as the Pope says, or was it His greatest victory? “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23)  

Today many people look at Calvary and all they see is a man dying on a cross. They can’t understand why Christians are thrilled about the cross, why they want to sing about blood and death. The cross is just a stumbling block, as it was to the Jews in Paul’s day. Unenlightened Jewish minds couldn’t understand why the Messiah had to die. And the Greeks wanted something only proud intellectuals could understand – not a simple message accessible to anyone. That’s why they tripped over the teaching of the cross.

But Calvary is God’s masterpiece. It was no failure; it was the victory of Christ. “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Substitution Effected
The death of Jesus Christ was no failure, because He died as our Substitute. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9) Note the phrase, “the suffering of death.” His was not an easy passage from this world. It was excruciating agony and torture of the worst kind, for it was on a cross. He experienced all the pain, all the loneliness, and all the torments, that have ever been associated with death. Yet the wonder of it is that He did it voluntarily, so that He would receive what we deserved for our sins. That is what the Bible means when it says, “Christ died for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:3)

The death He tasted was the penalty of our sin. He endured all that the devil could throw at Him. But more than that, He bore God’s wrath over sin. On that cross, the Lord absorbed the full penalty of sin. If we were to suffer hell for all eternity, we would never pay the full price. But He gathered up an eternity of punishment, paid it all, and emerged as the risen and victorious Saviour. That is power! In every possible dimension, Jesus Christ took the pain and agony of death, and tasted it all for us.

Remember that He was without sin. He was guilty of nothing. He never sinned. He could have escaped death, but He chose to die as our substitute, bearing our sin. The sinless One took upon Himself the sin of all those who would trust Him. He paid the price of our sin and secured redemption for us.

Salvation Purchased
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10) The word “captain” can be translated ‘author’ or ‘pioneer.’ It means that Christ was the first and only initiator of salvation. There is no way to get to God apart from Him. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 cf Acts 4:12)

Similarly, we read in Hebrews 5:8,9 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” The suffering was essential. His sufferings made Him the perfect captain. His death opened up the way so that He could bring “many sons unto glory.”

Our salvation was purchased by the precious blood of Christ. (1Peter 1:18-20) Peter’s words show us that God, in the counsels of eternity past, had already planned out Calvary. Before man had even sinned, before the world was even created, God had planned Calvary. Revelation13:8 declares that Christ is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Satan Defeated
The first prophecy ever given about the Lord Jesus Christ, Genesis 3:15, predicted that He would crush the serpent’s head. Hebrews 2:14 announces the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy. Satan’s great power is death. He is the paymaster for the wages of sin. If he can keep a person living in sin until death, then he’s got that person for ever! Christ conquered death to destroy the devil. He came out of the grave, and announced, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:9)  “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Saints Victorious
Christ’s saving work means that every born again, blood washed believer, is now standing on victory ground, knowing the assurance of eternal salvation, and looking forward to that great day when the Lord shall return in glory and power! A day is coming when, “the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16) shall appear. That will be the hour of the Christian’s triumph, and the consummation of his redemption and salvation. He shall be changed, in a moment. (See 1 Corinthians 15:52-55 cf 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

Today, the storm clouds gather. Delusion sweeps the earth. But for God’s people the morning of an eternal day will dawn. Why? Because Christ did not fail in life or in death!

“O victory in Jesus,
My Saviour, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.”

Rev Gary Goodes