The Cross of Christ: Central and Singular

This Easter morning, I am thinking of the cross. And I wonder that I do not think of it more. Around Easter time it is easy to think of the cross, but we should not leave such thoughts to Easter time alone. The cross is the heart of the Christian faith, but in all the doctrinal discussions and practical considerations, in all the preaching and praying and studying and living, in all the ministry and fellowship and missions and evangelism, in all we as God’s church are called to do, do we minimize or marginalize the cross? Directly or indirectly, neglect of the cross is all too common in my life and yours. I pray these thoughts will be fodder for further meditation. I pray that we will ponder these things and focus our gaze more intently and more enduringly on the cross of Christ–today, tomorrow, and beyond.

The cross of Christ is clearly central. In a great post on the nature of the gospel, C.J. Mahaney points out that while the gospel is the “good news of God’s saving activity in the person and work of Christ” (a definition he borrows from Jeff Purswell) it focuses more particularly on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. And more specifically still, he asserts, the gospel is summarized by the cross–“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2. The resurrection is essential, for without it the cross’s message would be pointless, but the cross is where the gospel is seen most clearly.

The cross, then, proclaims the message that God became man to take upon Himself the punishment for our sins. Further, the perfect and righteous life of Christ–the God Man–enables God to give us the righteousness of Christ graciously and freely. This transaction occurs to those who believe on Jesus Christ and is wholly of grace and not in any way deserved by man. The cross shows the seriousness of sin–in that God would sacrifice His own Son because of the weight of our sins; and it also shows the magnitude of God’s mercy–that God would offer up His Son for us who in no way deserve mercy.

Further, the cross is seen as central in that it is the pinnacle of history, for it is the ultimate display of God’s glory–which is the ultimate purpose for God’s creation and all of its subsequent history. (I would encourage you to check out my friend Nathan Pitchford’s “Meditation for Good Friday” posted over at Reformation Theology Blog which deals with the centrality of the cross in all of history.)

But the cross is not only central to our faith, it is singular. Or rather it should be. What do I mean? Look at these verses:

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2)“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14)

The cross–and the Christ of the cross–should be our single treasure, our single pursuit, our single love. Every boast should only be in the light of the cross. Our only boast should be the cross. John Piper put it like this:

“Only boast in the cross of Jesus Christ. This is a single idea. A single goal for life. A single passion. Only boast in the cross. The word “boast” can be translated “exult in” or “rejoice in”. Only exult in the cross of Christ. Only rejoice in the cross of Christ. Paul says, Let this be your single passion, your single boast and joy and exultation.” (from pg. 49 of Don’t Waste Your Life–available as an online book here)

All of life should be viewed through the view of the cross. And as Piper points out later in that book, we can only boast singularly in the cross when our lives are crucified by and on that cross (notice Gal. 6:14b). Everything we do should be as a result of or a reflection of the cross. C.J. Mahaney points this out well in his book The Cross Centered Life. Our struggle to be pure in this world and our struggles to provide for our family–every aspect of our lives is touched by and should be shaped by the cross.

Let us aim to appreciate the centrality and significance of the cross of Christ, and endeavor by God’s grace to make it our single affection, joy, and boast!