The crucifixion of Jesus is both horrific and beautiful. When reflect on the crucifixion it brings both sorrow and joy. When I think about the crucifixion, the first thought that comes to my mind is: “Why?” Why did Jesus have to die? Why did He have to die the way that He died? To answer these questions, we must look more intently at the cross of Jesus.

The cross was the only way. Sin is a terrible thing. Nothing good ever comes from sin. It is a deadly disease that destroys everything in its path. The wages of sin is death, therefore, the only solution to cure this world from the curse of sin is death. However, the blood of an animal is not sufficient and the blood of a mere man is not pure. In order for the curse of sin to be lifted, someone had to die and that someone must be perfectly holy and righteous. Pure blood must be shed in order to provide forgiveness of sin. The only one that is perfectly holy is God Himself. Therefore, God orchestrated a plan to save the world from sin. He sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Jesus is the incarnate of God. He is God in the flesh. He became one of us so that He may free us from the curse of sin. The blood that He shed on the cross provided the sacrifice that was needed to pay the debt of sin for the entire world. The only alternative to the cross is the wrath of God. The cross was the only way.

The cross was wrapped in love. We know the reason why the cross was necessary. We know that it was our sin that brought about the need for the cross. However, why would God not just destroy us? Why would He not leave us in our sin and allow us to destroy ourselves? Why did God intervene? The reason for such intervention. The reason for the cross is found in one simple word: love. It was the love of God for His creation that lead Him to do the unthinkable. It was His love for you that lead Him to offer Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Jesus suffered and died on the cross because He loves you and He loves me.

The cross is in vain if we do not believe. Jesus has done all that needs to be done for our salvation. Our sin debt has been paid. However, in order for salvation to become a reality for us, we must believe on the Lord Jesus. We must accept His free gift of grace through faith. If we fail to believe on the Lord Jesus and trust in Him for our salvation, then we are making a mockery of the cross. Imagine going through the most horrific torture for someone else only to have them turn their back on you and refuse to show gratitude for what you did. You see, if you refuse to trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are mocking the cross and you are telling Jesus that you do not care how much He went through for you. If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus, do so today. Don’t allow the death of Jesus on the cross to be in vain. Trust in Him today for your salvation.

The cross is appreciated when we tell others about Jesus. How can we show our gratitude for the cross? How can we show our appreciation for what Jesus did for us? We do so by telling others about Him. That is the purpose for every believer. When we fail to tell others about Jesus, we too are making a mockery of the cross. If the cross is really special to you. If you really appreciate what Jesus did for you, then be a witness for Him every day.