With more than one participant, the NCS book club is now officially up and running, on Wednesdays at 9am in the Brennan room. But I know how many others are out there, also reading ‘The Cross of Christ’. So to keep us all connected and encouraging each other, we’ll post a short blog here each week and let discussions flow. .
Chapter one was a cracking start, covering a host of concepts including; the cross as a symbol, the cultural and Jewish meaning of the cross, it being the culmination of Jesus entire life and ministry and a range of different common objections to the cross. .
I was left with a simple, yet staggering thought. That I have to know and love deeply the authentic Jesus. The Jesus on the cross. 1 Corinthians 2 Paul spurs us on to this, ‘For i resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’. .
John Stott gives a great charge to us in response to this, ‘We can stand before it (the cross) only with a bowed head and a broken spirit. And there remain until the Lord Jesus speaks to our hearts his words of pardon and acceptance, and we, gripped by his love and brimful of thanksgiving, go out into the world to live our lives in his service.’ (page 18) .
I encourage you to think about what your idea of Jesus consists of. Is it the manger? The carpenter? The miracles? The teaching? The good man? Or perhaps the cross. But in which of these does your hope rest? And for which do you owe your life? .
photo credit: izarbeltza