Eugene Vermeulen

The Cross of Jesus is offensive

It offends those who reject it. It offends the politically correct and it offends even the believer. It offends our pride and our independence. It offends our notion that we determine our own fate, that we can decide for ourselves what is right and wrong.

It offends our belief that freedom is gained by promoting self, not from humility and servanthood. It offends the self-pity of our own pain & misery.

It offends comfortable religion. It offends believers when they don’t want to return to it for complete forgiveness and acceptance. It offends everyone who will not put it as the central focus of their lives. It offends all of humanity everywhere with its simple claim that we are a fallen race, that we cannot achieve salvation or enlightenment on our own – that God came in human form to redeem us from our hopelessness.

It offends me more often than I’d like to admit. Even so, I embrace its offense, because it shows me that I still have dying to do.

This irrational offense shows that something greater is at work here, that there is a war being waged for the souls of men. Therefore I will embrace the Cross of Jesus Christ. I will embrace the offense and stand counted with those who admit their sin and failing and fall on it for salvation.

Without the Cross I am nothing and life holds no real meaning. Because of the Cross there is hope and there is life, joy and power, not only in this life, but for all eternity. The Cross is a divine epiphany, a thought greater than what the human mind can conceive – that God could redeem a fallen race in such a radical, selfless way. It is love undeserved, that causes sinners to take on the very nature of God.

No historical event has impacted as many people so mystifyingly and profoundly. It is a wonder that, if not true, should be true. It cannot be fathomed or rationalized, only experienced. It stands as a monument and triumph above every other event in the history of mankind. Thank you for the Cross, My Lord , My Saviour, My Friend.

(The above article was posted here by Grant, with much gratitude to its author, Eugene Vermeulen)