Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

 But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1Corinthians 1:23-25 NIV).

From my understanding the cross predates the first century Romans and was widely used by many different cultures.  The Romans were the people who used it to punish their most dangerous criminals. They did this to make examples of them to prevent others from being subversive. So before the crucifixion of Jesus the cross was just another form of punishment used by the ruling authority against its enemies. It consisted of a straight pole secured in the ground and a cross beam on which the criminal would be either nailed or tied. This was the fate that Jesus would face when he was convicted of sedition (incitement to rebellion).

Since Jesus’ death, however the cross and words relating to the cross has found its way into our everyday language. So we use terms like: the crux of the matter; which indicates the most important part of the subject or point being discussed. Trials and crosses: which are the troubles and tribulation that an individual goes through! The cross road of life, a place where the decision you make can either make or break you. To Double cross: to dupe someone or cheat on them. To be Cross-eyed: where both eyes are looking in different directions. And the list goes on.

From an implement of ridicule, the cross has developed into one of the most recognisable symbols in western civilisation. There are many variations of crosses indicating a different take on the original one on which Jesus died.  The Pope and most historical church leaders wear crosses many of these crosses are supposed to have in them pieces of the original cross.

Today you may de double crossed, crossed-checked, cross-contaminated, cross-fertilised, cross-examined and so on.  So remember that since Jesus went on the cross at Calvary its original use as a means of humiliation and shame has been transformed. So now the cross is a symbol of victory, of triumph and about God using the base things of this earth to confound the wise. Remember the foolishness of God is wiser than any man’s wisdom.

We can all pray this: ‘Jesus I thank you for the cross and your shed blood which has brought and bought my salvation.’

Read 1Corinthians 1