WHAT IS THE CROSS?

What is the Cross?
What is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man crucified on a Cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross?
What is the human body of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God nailed to a cross – crying out: MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
What is the crucifying an innocent Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God?
What is the Cross – the crucifixion of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God?
Now I’m not asking the favorite Lutheran question:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
NO –
If we are know the Cross for what it REALLY IS, rather than what some illusion would have us to believe it is –
Then we must ask and answer this question:
WHAT IS THE CROSS?
WHAT IS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN AND THE SON OF GOD?

IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH THE GOD OF HEAVEN WE HAVE REJECTED IN SIN.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH REJECTION OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHICH WE RIGHTLY DESERVE.
IT IS THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DEALING WITH EARTHLY AND DIVINE CONSEQUENCES WE RIGHTLY DESERVE FOR OUR SINFULNESS.
IT IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH DOING FOR US – WHAT WE CANNOT EVER DO - TO BE FORGIVEN BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, TO BE FOREVER RIGHT WITH GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
THE CROSS – IS THE ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH – SECURING US AND SAVING US FROM OUR FALLEN HUMAN CONDITION OF SIN, DEATH, AND HELL.
THE CROSS – THE SAVING ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH LIVES ON TO SAVE IN CHRIST – WHO’S CRUCIFIED HUMAN FLESH WAS RESURRECTED TO REIGN THROUGH THE CROSS WITH HIS RESURRECTION.
Where the Gospel is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the water and the Word come together in Baptism – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Absolution is proclaimed – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
Where the Body and Blood of Christ are received in faith – there the activity of the Cross and the Resurrection is taking place.
In our Lord Jesus Christ - the activities of both the CROSS and the RESURRECTION for us - are ever at work preserving us unto life everlasting.
God grant us a simple faith and through it, the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER
We worship Thee, O Crucified!
What glories didst Thou lay aside;
What depth of human grief and sin
Didst Thou consent to languish in,
That through atoning blood outpoured
Our broken peace might be restored!
Though with our shame we shunned the light,
Thou didst not leave us in the night;
We were not left in sin to stray
Unsought, unloved, from Thee away;
For from Thy cross irradiates
A power that saves and recreates.
O loved above all earthly love,
To Thee our hearts adoring move;
Thy boundless mercies yearn to save
And in Thy blood sin’s wounds to lave.
O speed the day when men shall see
That human hopes are all in Thee. Amen.
by Albert W. T. Orsborn