The Cross

From: Young Christian: Volume 16, 1926

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

“It was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.” (John 19:20²⁰This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. (John 19:20)).

In the cross the world is judged in its religious, scientific and political features, as was typified of old in “the cedar wood, the scarlet and hyssop” (Lev. 14:4⁴Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: (Leviticus 14:4); Num. 19:6⁶And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. (Numbers 19:6))—the world in the whole range of its glory. All for God and for faith is judged in the cross of Christ, and in His resurrection. God began a, or rather the, new creation in which all things are new, and all things are of Him (2 Cor. 5:14-20¹⁴For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. ¹⁶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. ¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑20); Gal. 6:14,15¹⁴But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. ¹⁵For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:14‑15); Rev. 3:14¹⁴And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)), and when the Lord Jesus arose from the dead, He as it were, rose into a new world, founded on His sufferings, death and resurrection.

Of this new creation, this new world, this new realm, He is the head, center and glory, according to the purpose and counsels of God (Eph. 1:10¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10); Prov. 8:23²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Proverbs 8:23)) as Redeemer. He is the second man and last Adam.

This new creation is founded on redemption. His glory as Redeemer is an acquired glory—a purchased glory. His glory as Creator is rather His personal and inherent, not acquired or purchased; and creation is His because He created it; it is the fruit of His creative power and glory as Creator (John 1:1-3¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1‑3); Col. 1:16¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16); Heb. 1:1-3¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ²Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:1‑3)).

In the first of these scriptures, it is His proper Godhead glory.

In the second, He creates and sustains as the Son of the Father’s love, and all is by Him and for Him.

In the third, it is He as the appointed heir of all things; the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person, the maker and sustainer of all things by the word of His power; and the One who has by Himself made purgation for our sins, and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, the ever and all glorious Son, in whom God has spoken to us in these last days.

How blessedly and fully these scriptures bring before us our, blessed and wondrous Savior in His person and in His works! How outshining all His works, is that work of making purgation for our sins! How truly we can say with one of old, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior!”

Jesus! how much Thy name unfolds

To every opened ear!

The pardoned sinner’s memory holds

None other half so dear.

Jesus—the One who knew no sin,

Made sin to make us just;

Thou gav’st Thyself our love to win

Our full confiding trust.

The mention of Thy name shall bow

Our hearts to worship Thee;

The chiefest of ten thousand Thou,

Whose love has set us free.