December 20, 2008

The Cross
1 Corinthians 1:18 (HCSB) For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power.

The Cross.

Crucifixion (from Latin crucifixio) is an ancient method of execution, whereby the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross (of various shapes) and left to hang until dead.
It was in use particularly among the Persians, Seleucids, Carthaginians, and Romans from about the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD, when in the year 337 Emperor Constantine I abolished it in his empire, out of veneration for Jesus Christ, the most famous victim of crucifixion.
Crucifixion was usually to provide a death that was particularly painful (hence the term excruciating, literally "out of crucifying"), gruesome (hence dissuading against the crimes punishable by it) and public, using whatever means were most expedient for that goal.

Jesus, “the most famous victim of crucifixion,” died on a cross. The message of the cross is God’s power.

The message of the cross is that Jesus died for our sins.
1 Peter 3:18 (HCSB) For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.



Questions for Discussion
How will you remember the real reason Jesus came this Christmas season?

Prayer
Dear God, words are not adequate to thank and praise you for the death of Jesus for my sins. Amen.
Song
“Jesus Loves Me”