Living Beyond the Cross: Embracing the Risen Christ

The stories of Jesus' crucifixion are almost ubiquitous today. Crosses of each and every type adorn churches, religious shops, necklaces, public places, you name it. There are cross relics, blessed crosses, ceremonial crosses, and the list goes on.

Today, there are growing controversies about the purpose of the cross and why, if any, reason Jesus had to die on the cross. Some claim it never happened, or that He was a criminal and deserved it. Some blame the concept of a God that would even require a blood sacrifice as terrible as the cross. Some say it’s not consistent with their perspective of a God of Love. Unique to this is the growing discord of those who say the God of the Old Testament isn’t the same as the God of the New Testament.

There are many, many variant views and perspectives, but least of all — that the cross was necessary to remove the guilt and burdens of sin. Humanity doesn’t like to have its face rubbed with guilt and blame. They see nothing wrong with themselves, and blink in offense when confronted with the issues and faults of humankind. [1]

All being said, the cross is a problem for humanity. It is also the mysterious door to another realm, a new creation, and a wonderfully deep mystery and hope.

There remains another problem. Many who believe in the cross are “stuck” on the cross. They continue to suffer the pain of guilt — even after confessing repentance and declaring faith. They live under the burden of past sins and are weighted down. I fully understand that burden and have faced it repeatedly over a lifetime! Letting go can be difficult, and the cross stays in my vision when I need to be looking in a different direction.

Having faithful friends in distant places is helpful. Like the community church, having fellow believers encouraging us and sharing our burdens is essential for spiritual health. God created the church for that purpose — even a church that is scattered across the world!

Indeed, Jesus said that his followers must carry their own cross. [2] Does this mean actually carrying the burden of the cross after being saved? The answer is a hybrid of yes and no. There’s a spiritual element to Jesus’ statement that wasn’t well understood then and isn't understood now.

For The True Believer, what happened on the cross is in the past. For the believer, the future is the Resurrection.

As humans, we understand death and dying. We understand murder and evil deaths. This is within our reality and something many live with every day. The thought of the lord Jesus on a cross is unbearable and so regrettable. That this was required for our transgressions makes us nauseated and sick inside. Imagine his disciples after three years with him to learn that he was going to be arrested, judged, tortured, then nailed to a cross — unbelievable then, and to some even now.

As blessed as we are because Jesus loved us enough to give Himself for our ransom back to the Father after we strayed into the slavery of sin and rebellion, if Jesus had stayed in the grave, then the story would be meaningless. [3]

For that very reason, we should not look back at a “dead” Jesus from history. We should be looking forward to a risen Jesus that is alive, sitting at the right hand of Father God, all authority given to him as he rules forever and ever. [4]

It is very important that the believer fix their eyes on the living Lord and not get stuck behind the cross. Our joy and hopes are complete only living with the risen Lord. Behind the cross is guilt, misery, pain, and hopelessness. A hopelessness we cannot endure. We preach and teach the cross for sinners to learn their true state and need for salvation. We preach and teach the resurrection as our hope and purpose, which gives us life, freedom, and confidence no matter what is taking place to us, or around us.

Jesus opened the door for us to drink of His Spirit, which connects us directly to him! He is there, right now, today, ready and willing to speak and intercede on our behalf.

Jesus, the Christ, the Son of Man is not dead — he is alive and quite well. That is where we should be, too.

Until we drink deep inside the very Spirit of Jesus, we are stuck in this world age. After we have drunk our fill of the Spirit, we become citizens of Heaven, flowing with “Living Water” that we can share with others to become living fountains of life too.

Learn from this, as without the flow of living water in us, we have absolutely nothing to share with others. We are like broken cymbals, and crashing sounds, an irritant and pest to be brushed away.

Our words drop dead, our worship is flat, robotic, repetitive, and totally in vain. This is much of the current reason Christianity is being rejected or altered in growing numbers.

By faith, we drink deep, by faith we are transformed receiving the Spirit of God; and finally, by faith and the Spirit, our physical house decays and dies, but our spirit is reborn and raised up in a stronger spiritual body that is fit to dwell in the presence of the Lord forever.

“To live (now) is Christ, to die (in the flesh) is gain!” — Philippians 1:21 NIV

© Bob Russell

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Sources:

[1] Galatians 5:11–12; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 6:14

[2] Matthew 16: 24–26

[3] 1 Corinthians 15:12–20

[4] Mark 16:19; Romans 8:34; Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 2:33; Luke 22.69; Acts 7: 55–56; Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:1; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 10:12; Matthew 22:44; Matthew 26:64; Hebrews 1:13; Ephesians 1:20; Revelation 3:21; Acts 7:55. There are over one hundred verses in scripture on the elevation of Jesus to rule at the right hand of Almighty God