Sometimes even those of us long in the Christian tooth benefit from the reminder of what we believe, and why. If we even need proof of the existence of a God not made in our image than look no further than the events of Christmas and Easter. They are mind-blowing, hard to fathom, and unbelievable, and not at all intuitive. Which is why I believe. The ultimate love story.

By far the biggest and most unattractive object in view this week heading to Easter is that bloody Cross. The entire focus of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection hinged on that Cross. A place of violence, judgement, punishment, and death; injustice and justice.

After Jesus’ betrayal by Judas and capture in the Garden of Gethsemane he was led away to be mocked as a fake king. He faced religious leaders who taunted his claims. As far as they could see he was just a mere mortal. Rather a pathetic and bloodied figure without much to say, and not nearly the power over them as they wielded over him; or so they assumed. People were crucified all the time. It was the easiest way to get rid of troublemakers and would-be threats to the establishment and power, Roman or Jewish.

If he was God’s Son why didn’t he take a short cut to heaven? Why suffer such indignity and pain with whips and scourging, carrying a Cross, nails in the wrists and ankles, a spear stabbed in the side? They had seen it all before. Messianic maniacs making claims, blowing hot then disappearing in the desert wind.

At the Cross God was shouting through his Son visibly, emotionally, spiritually, and pragmatically: “Pay attention, this could be you!” The people, gathered around for a hundred different reasons, had no idea of the universal and eternal significance of the seemingly ordinary criminal spectacle they were witnessing. Later, after an unexpected and quite supernatural empty tomb, and resurrection appearances before more than 500 witnesses, the Cross would be revisited. What in God’s name was Jesus doing there? God, showing us how to find him, know him, be with him – on earth and in heaven?!

Who of us has lived a perfect life? None of us have even come close. We’re so convinced of our imperfections we coined a phrase underscoring the fact. “I’m only human.” Aware of our tendencies toward imperfection our society is built around the values of justice, accountability, punishment for a crime, paying fines and penalties, even imprisonment.

Let’s look in the mirror and reflect. Not to accuse and condemn, merely to share our universal experience of an awkward relationship with our imperfection, pride, guilt, tendency to screw up. When was the last time you acknowledged yourself as guilty before someone else? Before yourself? Do you embrace your imperfections with accountability, or excuse and blame, perhaps ignore, or change the subject? What does imperfection and being guilty feel like for you? Is there shame, self-condemnation, or the self-comfort and justification of ‘everyone does that’. If there is no target we hit ‘a bullseye’ wherever. If our life is measured against nothing we always measure up, look good, come up smiling -to ourselves.

How do we come to terms with the harsh reality that it was religious people, believers in God, who missed what he was doing, and crucified the one who claimed to be his Son? No matter what we say we believe we can still have egg on our face from time to time. In other words, get it wrong.

There could be no short-cut to heaven for Jesus if the love of God was going to be meaningful and make a difference – for us, believers, or those not quite there yet. Because the problem with imperfection and guilt on earth is that it disqualifies us to have a relationship with God on earth, and enter heaven when we’re done here. Not because God desires us to be excluded, but because our condition, much like having Covid, means there is a barrier through which we cannot pass. Heaven is imperfection-free, as is God. All who fall short cannot break through.

Because love and justice are essential components of the nature of God he cannot ignore or bypass the consequences of ‘ us falling short’. Those who walk in guilt and imperfection face death and judgement. The flip-side of independence and freedom is personal responsibility and accountability. The sweet truth is that God has no problem with the fact that we get things wrong, rebel, make mistakes, and do even worse than that. He doesn’t like it, but he accepts the reality. The problem is us. We can’t handle the admitting of wrong, saying sorry, acknowledging failure, letting go of pride. The more we deny, the deeper the hole we dig for ourselves. That’s universal, inside and outside the church.

When Jesus hung on the Cross he took our imperfections and guilt upon himself. Instead of us facing the consequences of our rebellion, he did. On the Cross Jesus faced what we deserve so that we can receive what he deserved. It’s called forgiveness, grace, new beginning, being cleansed, made like new. Practically speaking, the Cross is to our ‘sin’ like a shower is to washing away dirt. God looks at sin like that. Our humanity in a broken world picks up ‘dirt’ every day as a normal part of living. Recognizing that fact his love created a way, through his crucified son, for anyone and everyone to ‘come clean’ whenever required.

It’s not complicated. The impact and efficacy of the Cross, much as with a shower, is up to us. We experience it’s cleansing forgiveness as we step into it. How? Confession of sin, acknowledgement of imperfection, requesting forgiveness, thanking Jesus for making a way. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven, cleansed, made new. But the process is never automatic, it demands our involvement, up close and personal. No-one can shower to cleanse another person, neither can anyone else go to the Cross for us. Grace replaces guilt, forgiveness overcomes shame, hope triumphs over despair.

We can take a shortcut to Easter and see the joy of resurrection, eat the chocolate eggs, and smell the daffodils. But we will only be an onlooker, rather than a participant. Even the disciples who followed Jesus for three years fell short. After the unexpected resurrection of their crucified leader Peter faced him on the shores of Galilee. He was depressed, riddled with guilt and shame because he had chickened out under pressure and denied Jesus three times. He promised him that he wouldn’t, but he did. The risen Jesus prepared barbecued fish and bread for his despairing friends because he loved them unconditionally.

After the meal Jesus addressed Peter. No shortcuts, brushing under the mat, turning a blind eye. God doesn’t work like that. Jesus looked Peter in the eye and three times posed the piercing question. “Do you love me?” Three times Peter choked and replied, “You know that I do.” Confession and forgiveness acknowledged and worked out on the beach. The exchange set Peter free to live the rest of his life without the choke-chain of his failed promises accusing him. That’s a practical application of the Cross.

Two thousand years later I could illustrate the same encounter from my very flawed journey and the love of Jesus at his Cross. I have made many wrong turns, poor choices, sincere mistakes, regrets, and whatever. There is nothing Jesus has not forgiven when I have confessed and owned up. Nothing he holds over me or condemns me with. Nothing that disqualifies me from his friendship. The Cross is real, it is powerful, it is effective, it is healing, it is good news for people like me who still fall short time and again. And because of what Jesus accomplished there, when I enter in and acknowledge my need for forgiveness (yet again), there truly is no condemnation for those who come to him. I keep on declaring the same incredible phrase at the heart of it all: Amazing Grace! Now there’s grounds for a happy Easter!

I love the hope and joy, the passion, and good news of these songs below. It would have not been possible, to write, to sing, to dance to – without the Cross. 🙂

Come all you weary
Come all you thirsty
Come to the well
That never runs dry
Drink of the water
Come and thirst no more

Well, come all you sinners
Come find His mercy
Come to the table
He will satisfy
Taste of His goodness
Find what you’re looking for

For God so loved
The world that He gave us
His one and only
Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him
Will live forever

Bring all your failures
Bring your addictions
Come lay them down
At the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting there
With open arms
See His open arms

For God so loved
The world that He gave us
His one and only
Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him
Will live forever

The power of hell
Forever defeated
Now it is well
I’m walking in freedom
For God so loved
God so loved the world

Praise God
Praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him
Praise Him
For the wonders of His love (praise God)

Praise God
Praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him
Praise Him
For the wonders of His love
His amazing love

For God so loved
The world that He gave us
His one and only
Son to save

For God so loved
The world that He gave us
His one and only
Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him
Will live forever

The power of hell
Forever defeated
Now it is well
I’m walking in freedom
For God so loved
God so loved the world

Bring all your failures
Bring your addictions
Come lay them down
At the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting
God so loved the world

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Andrew Bergthold / Edmond Martin Cash / Franni Cash / Martin Cash / Scott Mctyeire Cash

God So Loved lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

Why are you crying?
Why are you weeping?
Let your tears roll down and dry
The tomb is empty
It holds no body
Come see it for yourself
Let sorrow turn to praise

Sing hallelujah
Lift Him high
For He is risen
From death to life
The grave defeated
He is alive
The son of heaven
Jesus Christ

Why are doubting?
Why are you troubled?
Let your heavy heart find strength
His hands, His feet are
Marked with nail scars
Come see it for yourself
Let questions turn to faith

Sing hallelujah
Lift Him high
For He is risen
From death to life
The grave defeated
He is alive
The son of heaven
Jesus Christ

[Bridge]
Sin, where’s your power?
Death, where’s your sting now?
Hell, where’s your victory?
We know, we know who won
Jesus Messiah
Champion of heaven
Our King forever
We know, we know who won

Sin, where’s your power?
Death, where’s your sting now?
Hell, where’s your victory?
We know, we know who won
Jesus Messiah
Champion of heaven
Our King forever

We know, we know who won
We know, we know who won
We know, we know who won
We know, we know who won

Sing hallelujah
Lift Him high
For He is risen
From death to life
The grave defeated
He is alive
The son of heaven
Jesus Christ