Jesus, the one that we Worship was hung on a Cross.
What if someone we love were killed in a car wreck, would we put the car on display? Would we make little car replicas and hang them around our neck? Why would we wear Crosses around our neck? Why would we put them in prominent places in our churches and homes? Why do we hold the Cross in such high esteem?
Here is what I think.
Some (many) people wear a cross just because it is jewelry, it has no specialspiritual representation for them. But when Christians wear a cross, it is because theyhave unashamedly chosen to pick up their cross daily and follow their Savior.
Jesus used the Cross as a way to teach about true discipleship: Matthew 10:38 & 39 says, If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. NLT
Here is what the Message says: “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
In this Scripture and others, Jesus is saying to you and me, no matter the pain, His disciples His followers, we are to surrender ourselves to God’s will for our lives.
Jesus was doing God’s will by carrying His own cross to His death. The Bible is clear, Jesus would have done it some other way if it were possible. Philippians 2:8 says, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Most people know that the cross was the method of the death of Jesus Christ, but few realize that it tells the story of God’s salvation plan. The cross represents what Jesus did for us to gain our Eternal Life. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the message of the Bible. It’s the “Good News”.
The symbol of the Good News is the cross!
So, if you are a Christian, wear your Cross but more than that, carry your Cross every day. That means, represent Christ to those around you. Treat them with the love of Christ, even when you don’t feel like it. We have no excuse! However, if you wear that Cross out of Tradition, it would be like putting a car on display that had taken the life of someone that you love. It would be meaningless.
Cross of Gold by Michael W. Smith (check out the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8vpfW5L3KU