The Importance of Math, and understanding "the cross"

I heard of a young student who was flunking math. His parents sent him to a church school to try to better his grades. His math grades immediately improved, and he seemed to have a passion for study - especially math. When his parents asked why the change he replied, "when I saw that man nailed to the plus-sign I knew these people were serious about math."

This silly story is about a boy who missed the point. It is intended to be funny, but when we think of the multitudes who miss the point of the cross it ceases to be funny and becomes very sad. People all around us every day miss the point of the cross. Let's make sure that we aren't missing it as well.

First of all, let's understand that when we speak of the cross we are not talking about a cross at all. "The cross" is actually a metaphorical expression used by Christians to mean the death of Jesus Christ. The method of death was the instrument of a cross, as prophisied in the Old Testament scripture. Let's not think that when we speak of the cross we speak of a wooden device that was used to put many to death. (Also understand that in the same way when we speak of the blood that we are not refering to some of the specialized bodily fluid that carries needed substances to the body's cells - rather we speak of the life of Christ. His "life's blood"). If Jesus had suffered on the cross yet not died, then there would be no salvation and no hope for mankind.

So the cross is the death of Christ, but it's more than that. The cross is the atoning death of Christ. To atone is to make amends or reparation for wrong done, and the cross is the death of Christ that took the punishment of God for sin. Another word for this is propitiation - absorbing the full impact of the wrath of God against sin. Jesus didn't just die, He died for a reason. The cross is the atoning death of Jesus, and atonement is the first reason for the cross. If we miss atonement, we miss the point.

The cross is the atoning death of Jesus, but there is more. The cross is the substitutionary atoning death of Christ. Substitution is vital to the discussion because it first points out that Christ was not atoning for His own sin. Christ, the fullness of God, never sinned at all therefore had no sin for which to atone. Christ's atoning death was in place of sinners who would repent and believe in Him. Just as Jesus took the place of Barabas on the cross that day, he took my place. He atoned, not for His sin but for mine. If you miss the substitution you miss the point. I hope you can rejoice in Jesus as you Savior who was your personal substitutionary atonement.

There are other aspects of the cross, but these are so important that if we leave them out we lower the meaning and power of it. When we speak of the cross understand that what we mean is the substitutionary atoning death of Jesus Christ. Don't miss the point.

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