What does a two thousand year old wooden cross of execution have to say to us in this modern world of technological, cultural, and social development? How could it possibly be relevant to our contemporary issues and problems? Can we still find a message for today in the cross of Jesus? After many years of study and observation as a scientist, as a philosopher, and as a theologian, I believe that the cross of Jesus is the only message of today that really matters. Today's messages from science, from society, from philosophy, and from religion are all limited in scope by the human mind and its experience of the finite world in this thing we call "life." These messages have a limited degree of importance. Jesus' cross is a message from the infinite, ultimate Creator of the entire universe. It transcends science, society, philosophy, religion … everything! It is a message of ultimate importance.

The message of Jesus' cross, first and foremost, is that God loves us … all of us! Jesus, himself, said it best - "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who puts their faith in him may not perish, but may have eternal life" (John 3.16). Notice Jesus tells us that God did not give his Son on the cross just for righteous people, or for religious people, but for the world, everyone! Jesus taught us by his life and by his cross that it is God's nature to love. God will not be hateful, or be mean-spirited, or be vindictive; as a matter of fact, he cannot, because love is his nature, and only love flows forth from him. John put it this way - "God is light and in him is no darkness at all." In my book,The Paradox of the Cross, one of the amazing paradoxes I talk about is that while we were treating God in the most hateful, most rejecting way possible, he was loving us with the greatest love possible. No matter how much hate and indifference we may direct at God, he will always respond with love. That is his nature.

If the message of the cross was just the information that God loves us, it still would be a message of great meaning in itself; but the message goes farther. God not only loves us, but desires to partner with us in our life, make us a part of his family, and continue to give us life for all eternity. So, by means of the love of the cross, God is offering us the further gifts of reconciliation, reunion, and eternal life. In the cross God is saying - "There is no issue between us any longer. You don't have to live your life alone, separated from me, and others, in shame and regret. You don't have to fear life or death. You don't have to be in bondage to addictions or in fear of evil. Your life will have purpose and meaning. Love me. Trust me. I will be your shepherd. I will be your strength. Everything will work out for your good." This is why it is called "good news" - the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we turn to God and faithfully accept this good news, he becomes our loving Father, Jesus becomes our Lord, our Shepherd, and God's Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us bringing us the joy, peace, and love that we have been seeking in countless other ways.

Some people have asked - "How does religion enter into this equation?" Religion is of value only insofar as it assists us in our quest to know God better, love him more, and follow his way more perfectly. Some religions and some religious groups have value in this way and some do not. Some are only interested in money, power, and control. Some make us psychologically "sick." Some religious groups have tried to entrap the work and the power of God within the confines of their religion and religious dogma. In doing so, they have (knowingly or unknowingly) sought to be the only channel by which God's love enters the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the time of Jesus, the religious elite of his day were guilty of the same thing. As a result, they became willing allies with the powers of evil, and crucified God's love gift to us, his only Son. Religion is hopelessly intertwined with human culture, the historical events of that culture, and the particular cultural setting out of which a religious movement arises. It has all the flaws that are a part of human being and human organizations. The best we can hope for from religion is that it will faithfully direct our focus toward God and toward the spiritual dimension, do charitable works, and bravely speak out against evil. Jesus did not call us to join a religion or be religious; he called us to be his disciples and follow his lead. The cross is not about religion; it is about relationship with God.

Whenever the message of the cross of Jesus is heard it begs a response from the hearers. When we hear how the cross speaks of God's love for us, of his plan to make things right between us, and his desire to give us abundant, endless life, our response is dependent upon our heart. For those hearts that are open to this message, the beginnings of faith in God and his promises take root and a small light of love for God begins to burn. As time goes by this faith and love, by the work of God's Spirit within, grow to great proportion. If our hearts are closed to this message then we are choosing an existence separate and apart from God, an existence that ruins our souls. God's love will not violate our free choice. He will allow us to take the road we choose. Separation from God is bad enough in this world, but after we leave this world it is a horrible state. Jesus warned us of this. All truth, all beauty, all goodness, all rightness, all love, all joy, all compassion comes from God. It is because of his presence that these things exist. Imagine living in separation from God in a state where none of these things existed; where there was nothing but hatefulness, deception, evil, ugliness, despair, and aloneness. In this current world, life is an experience of both of these qualities, the positive and the negative; no matter whether we have chosen fellowship with God or separation from him. It is quite possible that the reason life is this way is so that we can experience both sides and make a choice either to love God or to hate him (there is no in-between; indifference is the worst form of hate); that is the ultimate reason why we are here - to choose reunion with God or separation from him. Beyond this life we will exist either in the eternal presence and love of God or completely separated from him. The choice is up to us.

So what is the message of the cross to you as you are reading this today? It all depends on your response. If you are a faithful follower of Jesus, then this message from Paul is what I would leave with you - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15.13). If you started down the road to follow Christ sometime in the past but have gotten derailed for any number of reasons, then today is the day to get back on track. Remember how much God loves you and how he is patiently waiting for your return. Read Luke 15.11-32, Jesus' parable of the prodigal son. Just like the son who departed from his father, come to your senses and return to God. He will receive you just as Jesus describes in this beautiful story of repentance and forgiveness. If you are someone who has been living your life apart from God, then I encourage you to listen to the message of the cross. The cross of Jesus' is telling you how much God loves you and how much he wants you to be in fellowship with him. It is telling you how much Jesus loves you and how much he wants you to be his disciple. God, through Jesus, has given us every reason to love him and choose him above all else. Millions have made that choice. You can make that choice right now.

If you believe the message of the cross and want to respond to God because of his love for you then just follow what the Bible tells us to do. In the New Testament we have a record of how the very first ones responded who heard the message of the cross. Why not bypass all the debates and all of the theological baggage of the Christian Denominations with their rules for membership and just follow the example of the early followers of Jesus? They were told to place their faith completely in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. They were told to repent; this word has a lot of religious baggage associated with it, but it simple means to change one's way of thinking. In other words, stop serving yourself and doing evil, and start serving God and doing good. And they were told to be baptized (you do not need a special place or a special person to do this, where I live in California a lot of people are baptized in the ocean by their friends), which is a symbol of starting over in a new life as a new creation in Christ (If you want to study these things in the Bible read the following - Acts 2.38, 16.15, 16.31, Romans 6.3-14). If you sincerely respond in this way then God promises to add you to his family, to give you his Holy Spirit to dwell within you and to give you a life greater than you can imagine forever. "For he has said 'never will I leave you; never will I abandon you,' therefore we can say with confidence, 'the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me" (Heb 13.5-6).

by BO SIMEROTH, Ph.D. © 2005