Grace of Christ is so extra-ordinary that our very survival and living is through Him! This shows God’s love for mankind- His creation! To the world, a Cross is a symbol of shame and failure. But to a believer this very symbol, ‘The Cross’ is a sign of victory! 

How is this very symbol interpreted in two different ways? 

Well, we need to rewind a bit in history. Actually, a little more of a rewind all the way back to Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin fell on mankind and wickedness grew.  It is written, “The wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. God in His mercy allowed mankind to live by transferring the sins to a sheep, bull or a ram as mentioned by the Mosaic law.  The blood of the sheep, ram, bull and other sacrificial animal really did not wipe away the sins but was temporarily removed from God’s sight. 

But God so loved the world, that He decided to give His only begotten Son – Jesus; that those who believe in Him shall not die but live! ( John 3:16).  He prophesied about Jesus before 600 odd years before His Son could be born. In His sovereign wisdom, He predicted the death His Son would face – The whole passion of the Cross. He sacrificed His Son’s life -A sinless man, a lamb without blemish so that the sins you and I commit is not just temporarily removed but completely forgiven! St. Peter in the scripture clearly identifies this redemption and this Grace “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” ( 1 peter 1: 18-19) 

Why did our God have to do that?

Well, he wanted us to Live! ‘You see, we are a soul and we have a body ‘(C.S. Lewis). The body was formed with earth and we will leave this body some day, but there is a spirit and soul that was God’s, we each have one and this soul and spirit is immortal. “Then the Lord God formed a mana]”>[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7).  Which in essence means our body will decay here on earth  but our soul and spirit need to give an account of our life here on earth. Now, if Jesus was not in the picture – you and I are condemned to eternal damnation. (righteously so, because of our sins). Jesus, by nailing every sin on the Cross for you and I. Hebrews 9: 12 says “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining for us eternal redemption.” When we claim that – we are not condemned but forgiven and ever so loved and we live!  Now this has nothing to do with our merit and we cannot boast! This salvation of mankind is purely through Grace and by Faith both a gift given to us by God, our Abba Father!

There is a glitch though!

What’s the glitch you may ask, well while Salvation and Redemption is already done- Jesus has already paid the price for you and I and this priceless precious thing is free but it needs to be claimed! Unless you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you cannot enjoy this saving Grace. How can I explain this ? Say you bought the winning lottery and won a million dollars!  but unless you claim that you are the owner of the lottery- this is nothing but a piece of paper. But when you do claim it, voila! You are the owner of 1 million dollars. Salvation and Redemption of Jesus is something similar. He’s already done it for you and me. He paid a heavy price for it. This Salvation is priceless and so so precious.  So, when you hear miracles – The deaf  speak, the blind see, the lame walk, cancer being healed or any other healing and when you see evil spirit(s) flee – all of this healing and deliverance is because of the belief, the claiming of the redemption and his saving Grace through Jesus’s suffering, His Bloodshed, His Cross! 

The beauty to all this is we can experience His Grace, Peace, Salvation and Redemption amidst our suffering and pain while still on earth; it’s so beautiful that it’s a foretaste of what heaven would be. This very Cross and the sorrowful passion brings us victory both on earth and heaven. Now the question is, you have two choices in front of you to see the Cross as a shameful death or believe in Christ and claim that very Cross as your victory and salvation! What is going to be your choice?