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The Riddle of the Cross

Mart De Haan Posted by Mart DeHaan
March 29th, 2013
30 Comments » 

P1040433 _SnapseedNeeded by all, deserved by none; A life for death, a death for life; In one, all; for all, one; By rejection, acceptance; By weakness, strength; In sorrow, joy; In right, made wrong; For wrong, made right; By injustice, justice; Through judgment, mercy; Through despair, hope. What love is this, and what difference could it make?


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30 Responses to “The Riddle of the Cross”

  1. SFDBWV says:
    March 29, 2013 at 6:34 am

    Today is “Good Friday” called “Good” for all the reasons Mart has type written for us to read.

    This event foretold in the story of God and man all throughout the OT, yet missed by many who come to worship the Written Word rather that understand it.

    Job stated it was better for him to have never been born than to suffer as he did.

    I know many who still echo those words.

    As evidenced in the action of the cross, suffering pain and heartache was God’s way of making a way for forgiveness.

    It makes me wonder why He couldn’t have just forgiven man without this violent action and bloody death perpetrated upon an innocent man.

    It would seem given as a riddle Mart has shown it to be true that in every action there is an opposite to it.

    What does this say about the nature of God?

    What does it mean concerning the disappointments and suffering life produces for us now?

    Hope comes in the event that follows the “Passion of Christ”, Easter morning with an empty tomb.

    My hope is that in the resurrection we can hope to have all of the wrongs, unhappiness, disappointments, suffering, pain and confusion be reversed.

    Today is Matthew’s birthday he is 35.

    Steve

  2. pegramsdell says:
    March 29, 2013 at 6:53 am

    Happy Good Friday! Thank You Jesus!
    Happy Birthday Matthew!

  3. Mart De Haan says:
    March 29, 2013 at 6:55 am

    Steve, please pass along to Matthew a “happy birthday” from your blog friends!!

  4. SFDBWV says:
    March 29, 2013 at 7:40 am

    Peg and Mart, Matt says thank you.

    Steve

  5. foreverblessed says:
    March 29, 2013 at 8:18 am

    Happy birthday Matt!
    What a hard subject, the cross. Last night we had the bread and wine at church, as the last meal of Jesus and the disciples. There were many christian films shown on the Cross, and they still are singing in my head, and an overall knowing of God’s deep love for me overwhelms me. God is so good to me!
    He erased all my shortcomings and sins, my weaknesses, they are gone forever.
    I often think about the film the Mask: the main character eats the bombs and they explode inside him. Then I think of Jesus He became sin for us and died to it. But His Spirit was invincable, He went down into Hades, and Triumphed over Death.
    And now in His Risen Life I can live in the Spirit Life, not on my own, but in Him.

  6. remarutho says:
    March 29, 2013 at 8:52 am

    Blessed Good Friday All –

    Happy Birthday, Matt!

    Mart, you ask:
    “What love is this, and what difference could it make?”

    You present a many-faceted gem with complementary sides. It seems to me we have established here that knowledge of Hebrew Scripture is not a requirement for receiving the good news. But in the story of Jesus’ glorious gift, some of the facets of the Gospel’s beauty are déjà vu in a prophet like Isaiah:

    “A voice of one calling:
    ‘In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
    make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.
    Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
    the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
    And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
    For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:5

    Such is the justice that is brought into the whole universe on account of the glorification of Messiah. The King of the universe is counted among criminals. The one who was unjustly executed is vindicated in resurrection to new life. We who had no hope of attaining recovery of our full humanity have been given fellowship in the presence of God.

    Jesus first seen by Mary Magdalene, according to John’s gospel, is a glimpse of what we will all see together on the Day of the Lord. Death today will result in glorious New Life on the first day of the week. So great is his love for us.

    Not much longer now,
    Maru

  7. narrowpathseeker says:
    March 29, 2013 at 9:02 am

    THANK YOU JESUS!!

    I am getting ready to go to a Catholic 1/2hour outdoor presentation called the Passion Walk. I have been told that it is such a realistic portrayal of Christ carrying His cross to the crucifixion that for some attendees it is a life changing moment. I will share my experience when I return this evening.

    MATTHEW, Happy Birthday. I hope you have a Blessed Day.

  8. BruceC says:
    March 29, 2013 at 9:20 am

    Steve,

    Say Happy Birthday to Matt for me!!

    poohpity,

    So sorry for you loss! Will pray for you and your children.

    BruceC
    Soli Deo Gloria!

  9. poohpity says:
    March 29, 2013 at 11:51 am

    What love is this, and what difference could it make? The most selfless act of love ever shown for the most pride filled, selfish, rebellious, stubborn person ever born. The difference made was to show us that we do not need anger, hostility, malice, blame, prejudice, retaliation to make it in this world because love does conquer all. There is a far different better way to live out all of our days by loving God and doing good. The freedom found in being forgiven opens a heart to accept love and to give it.

  10. poohpity says:
    March 29, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    Steve, tell Matt happy, happy birthday to a very special person.

    You stated, “It makes me wonder why He couldn’t have just forgiven man without this violent action and bloody death perpetrated upon an innocent man.”. I do not think he would have been a very just God to not have a penalty for sin.

  11. SFDBWV says:
    March 29, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Deb I am so very sorry that you have lost your very special friend; I know just how special he was to you.

    I just got off the phone from speaking with my niece, Carrie, she had called to wish Matt a happy birthday and talk a while with each of us. She cried almost all the while talking with me as she knew how close her dad and I were. I assured her though she will always miss him, but the pain will get less, it just takes a long, long time.

    I may have agreed with you that God is just and so as a just God there must be punishment for sin, until I learned that I do not require punishment for people who may have trespassed against me and Jesus taught to forgive without it as well.

    I mentioned it because it is one of those things that sometimes don’t add up to my earth bond limited view of things.

    Matt says thank you and to all those here as well for his birthday well wishes. He is now down to 292 pounds and has lost 16 inches around his stomach; he has to date lost 113 pounds since he began to try to.

    Be blessed.

    Steve

  12. poohpity says:
    March 29, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    I do not see that we can compare our relationship with others like that between a Holy God and us unless it is to show them the grace we have received. I am hoping that you learned that you do not require punishment for people who have trespassed against you soon enough before it caused them harm or you.

  13. narrowpathseeker says:
    March 29, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    I’m back from the “Passion Walk” and I have some questions that I have never thought of before. Of course this re-enactment of Jesus going to the cross may or may not be accurate in detail. However, in this presentation…the two thieves were dragged to the cross but Jesus had to carry His cross to the Hill. The two thieves hung on the cross in their robes..Jesus was stripped of his robe. I guess this is more or less “trivia” but is Jesus the only one who had to CARRY His cross and is He the only one that was stripped to His undergarment?

    Most of it was not as realistic as I had expected it to because of what I had been told about it beforehand. But the Lord Himself made it realistic in the end. It had been a beautiful warm sunny day with not even a breeze, for this occasion. They must have had loud speakers in the trees. They played the sound of thunder so loud that the vibration could be felt when Jesus took His last breath. Of course we know that was modern technology. BUT, then it darkened because dark clouds covered the sun and a cold wind started up at the very time the thunder sounds started!!! That was not the work of men. As I said, most of it wasn’t very realistic and I didn’t even cry(very unusual for me)UNTIL the moment the sky darkened and I knew God had a hand in the end of this production.

  14. poohpity says:
    March 29, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    narrow, from what I have read the criminals carried only the cross beams because the full weight would have been around 300 lbs.. Every criminal had to carry their own and they were hung completely naked for humiliation. The bible does not tell that, it is only from reading about crucifixion from others sources.

  15. rrbck1 says:
    March 29, 2013 at 11:19 pm

    Stated above (includes two above statements): ‘You stated, “It makes me wonder why He couldn’t have just forgiven man without this violent action and bloody death perpetrated upon an innocent man.” I do not think he would have been a very just God to not have a penalty for sin.’

    My comment: In the process of providing both fulfillment of God’s law of requiring punishment for our sins and forgiveness for those sins, God was demonstrating true love. He is love and He created us in His image – love. For us to be truly in that image, we must know and be that image. That was shown us in Jesus’s life on Earth and in His death (the greatest love that anyone can have for another) – His substitution for us. Through this we learn: “you must love Him very much, if He did that for you!” And He did do that for every person!

  16. rrbck1 says:
    March 29, 2013 at 11:23 pm

    Maybe I should add to my comment above that the “riddle of the cross” is solved or explained by God’s love, righteousness, holiness, and on and on with all of His attributes. What a great and worderful God!

  17. remarutho says:
    March 30, 2013 at 12:49 am

    Good Evening Mart & Friends –

    Mart, as the first description of the paradox of the Cross of crucifixion, you wrote:

    “Needed by all, deserved by none…”

    Some inside and outside the church would claim that somehow, because of some intrinsic quality, (s)he could be “alright” with God without the blood sacrifice of the Son. The cruelty of it is shocking. The worldly mind rejects it. We long to make it just okay. But, your first assertion is true, Mart. We cannot draw near to God without the removal of sin and sins (the sin-nature and our acts of personal rebellion).

    Only the human-born Son could break the power of sin and the death it earns us. (Romans 6:23) We need the free divine gift because we are not able to bear the cost. (Isaiah 46:3, 4) Without the grace of a Savior who pays for flesh with flesh, we are separated from our Creator for eternity. (Ezekiel 34:11; John 12:32)) Justice is required. It is a delusion that “I’m okay.” Only God himself can restore the goodness of a fallen creation. In this loving sacrifice is complete restoration. By the love by which God created all things God redeems all things.

    The cross is a riddle, but it rings with truth.

    Maru

  18. SFDBWV says:
    March 30, 2013 at 5:31 am

    I certainly would agree that without some event connected to it, the simple act of forgiving is lost. So the cross.

    The vivid impact of a cruel and torturous death adds to the event as any of us can understand that this man suffered horribly, not just was killed.

    Whipped, beaten, spit on, humiliated and nailed to a device designed as to suffocate its victim in agony.

    This the price God demanded for mankind’s atonement with Him.

    A price He paid for Himself by becoming a man and sacrificing Himself in order to make a way for all to be forgiven without further punishment.

    As in all the earth all throughout time there is never a person pure and clean enough to be totally innocent enough to be worthy of such a sacrifice.

    In Scripture we read that God didn’t want animal sacrifice what He actually wanted from us was to sacrifice our comforts and our plenty and give and share with each other as others needed. He wanted for man to give up self and concentrate on others.

    So the cross becomes a way for mankind to be restored by God and an event mankind can remember, put a finger on and say “here in this act my sins against God are paid for by God’s design and by His Will”. Thus we *believe* as is our part in the bargain.

    Without this act, who could put a finger on when it was God was able to say “Your debt to me is paid.”

    I believe God already had forgiven us all, but because of the *nature* of mankind, He had to make an event we could *see* before we could believe.

    I believe forgiveness is an action of the heart, done without any action of punishment and so the two are separate.

    I think there is more to understand about that difference.

    Steve

  19. BruceC says:
    March 30, 2013 at 7:12 am

    When I think of the violence of the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross and why it had to be that way, I am reminded of just how violent our sin is against God, and the violence sin brings to the world. The violence of death, of self. And as you have stated Steve, we are commanded to forgive and that can be tough at times. I have to remind myself that this not only because Jesus forgave me, but that He died so that they also could be forgiven if they come in faith believing on Him.

    I think that is why love is of the utmost importance. It is the tool used to remove our stubbornness and empowers us to forgive others that may have sinned against us. And it is so powerful that the love of Jesus changed the entire world.

    That single, solitary life.

    BruceC
    Soli Deo Gloria!

  20. SFDBWV says:
    March 30, 2013 at 7:36 am

    Good morning Bruce, can you believe it no snow yesterday or this morning. I almost feel lost.

    We still have a substantial snow covering ranging between 4 inches and 12 depending where the shadows fall. Of course it is considerably deeper where shoveled up or plowed.

    I have enjoyed the “Bible” movie more since they have centered on Jesus. It is remarkable to watch the various movies that try and capture this moment in history and how each one presents the facts from different views almost like the Gospels themselves.

    A great deal of thinking has to go into this punishment aspect of this whole story for me, so I will be saying more later.

    Matthew will have the computer a great deal of the day as he usually does on Saturday, but I will try and keep up as time allows. This is my one day of rest for me. At least this is the day I try for it.

    Steve

  21. remarutho says:
    March 30, 2013 at 8:00 am

    Good Morning All –

    The cross was always Jesus’ goal – as the only instrument, the only action possible. Only the cross can reestablish justice in the universe. Jesus commented upon the parable of the sower more than on any other parable he told, it seems to me. He said, as he often did, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Mark 4:23)

    Then he comments upon the parable format – and the learning it imparts: “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have mothering, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24, 25)

    Just measure is a primary theme of Scripture in my opinion. The Law deals with fair measure. The Jubilee Law calls for liberal measure to the marginal of society (aliens, widows and orphans). And in the rebellion of humanity the repayment is excruciatingly measured to the deed.

    It is the cruelty of humans (both Roman and Jew) in the day that is precisely met by the cleansing blood of Christ. The promise of God is that the grace, mercy and provision he have already given will be exceeded. God’s measure is super-abundant in all God’s loving attributes. It is the rebellion and sin of humanity that reap the frightening measure of just payment: No more than has been earned. Jesus bore it all, and Jesus covenants to measure out an excess super-supply of grace and mercy to those who obey and follow the Son of God here and now — and in the life to come.

    Blessings,
    Maru

  22. remarutho says:
    March 30, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Oops, the word I typed as “mothering” is “nothing.” Maru

  23. oneg2dblu says:
    March 30, 2013 at 10:52 am

    Steve… please wish Matt a belated Happy Birthday!

    Congratulate him also on his transformation in his body through his conviction to change and all his effort to actually properly apply it.

    That is where the results, the actual fruit, show the difference between those who only believe in using words, and those who actually apply them to what they believe.

    Matt is teaching us all something with his application to getting results.

    Application is a most effective thing, but only when it is actually “properly” applied.

    So powerful and effective is this “proper application” of words and their principles, that Christ used this in context with teaching his disciples how to pray to their Heavenly Father, where he said these words in Matthew 6:14,15
    “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

    Application makes all the difference!

    It makes you wonder why some Christians believe their sins, past, present and future are “already forgiven,” thus avoiding this context and its divinely taught application.

    I believe that our Repentance, Confession, and Forgiveness of sin, still needs to be a part of our required application if we are to properly follow as Disciples of Christ, and apply his context to his teaching.

    Any teaching that says otherwise is certainly not of Him.

    Be Blessed

    Gary

  24. poohpity says:
    March 30, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

  25. foreverblessed says:
    March 30, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    We do not really know how deep we have been, how low our position was. It is written that we were bought with a price, bought out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son God loves. 1 Cor 6:20, Col 1:13
    How could we have been redeemed form this darkness, if not for the Cross of the One who made everything that was made? Col1:15-16,17-18,19-20

  26. foreverblessed says:
    March 30, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    In Mark 15 it is written:
    “25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

    27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

    When I read this a few days ago, it was the first time (or maybe I have forgotten it) that it downed upon me, how impossible this statement was in the great Plan of God:
    The Pharisees would believe in Jesus when He would come down form the cross, just like the person from Lebanon wrote a few topics ago, how difficult it was to tell the Cross to the Muslim people, they think it impossible that a great prophet would be crucified.
    I just wanted to share this over here in the time of the Cross.
    It is God Himself who reveals this truth to hearts that are ready, Pray for people God lays on our heart.

  27. poohpity says:
    March 30, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    In Leviticus we offered sacrifices to have sin removed, forgiveness, an atonement made and a relationship restored. It was Jesus who gave up Himself as that sacrificial offering rather than us offering. Which makes sense of Hosea 6:6 if Adam and Eve had just loved God enough to obey what He asked them not to do. Same with us if we just were obedient to the things that are asked of us not to do to harm others and ourselves because we love God.

    Now we are asked to be rebellious because that is our nature but this rebellion is to what the world offers and teaches us. Micah 6:8

  28. oneg2dblu says:
    March 31, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I believe it was when Christ forgave the sins of the paralitic man, who was lowered through the roof in front of the phrasies, that he was accussed of blasphemy. Because to them, only God could forgive sins according to their doctrinal beliefs. But,their problem was that they were also blinded by them, they could never accept the Christ, yet the possibility of the Trinity, and they could not see or accept that Christ was God in the flesh, and He had “all the authority and power” to do so.
    He came to heal the sick, save the lost, and bring into his kingdom all whom God who lead to him, He would recieve as his own.
    That was his mission, ministry, and purpose, to forgive the sins of all who would profess with their lips and believe in their hearts, that He was sent by his Father to suffer the sins of others upon himself,with his shed his blood, and death on the cross. To be burried, and to be raised again to life in his resurrected body to sit on the righht hand of God, as ruler of His Kingdom, forever.
    Stay with me here… I know we can all find fault in my use of words.
    But, now we are in the locked door room, that he entered in his new resurrected body. He first gave to his disciples,which he now called his brothers, he gave His Peace, then, presented his hands and side for their inspection to show he was the real thing. He gave them the truth they saught about His resurrection. Then, he gave them his spirit, He breathed on them and said, recieve the Holy Spirit. After they were filled with the spirit, He gave them their mission, where he says, just as the Father called me to serve with power and authority, I now call you, and…
    If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.
    So, I ask, “Do the disciples, who Christ now calls his brothers, being confirmed as part of his family, and having recieved his Holy Spirit, also have within them the authority and power to heal as Christ healed, to forgive sins as Christ forgave sins, and to lead others to salvation, even baptize them, or not?
    Or, was their commission limited, having only limited power and authority?
    Even though He said they would do even greater things?

    I’m looking for some clarity here, I’m thinking this is quite similar to, what we bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, what we loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven…
    He is Risen!
    Gary

  29. billystan454 says:
    March 31, 2013 at 4:49 pm

    The love that only God, the triune God, can give. We can’t earn it, we can’t buy it, its not something you eat, nor is something you drink. It is freely given, an act of undescibable grace and mercy. “Freely you have received, freely give.” “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all things that I have commanded you…” “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God believe also in Me.” Faith is what is asked of us, faith in the Creator of all.

  30. oneg2dblu says:
    March 31, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    To me, the answer to this is that Christ gives to them, or any of His Spirit Filled Followers, the very same commission with all the power to tell those whom they have led to Him, through their confession of believeing and recieveing Christ as their Savior, that their sins are fogiven them.
    But, If they do not accept the Gospel message, then they have the power to say, your sins are not forgiven, Lest you repent and believe, you are still in your sins.

    The power of the cross still remains a riddle or a mystery, to all those who reject His message. Gary

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