This particular pondering usually comes to me around Easter but I think any day is a good day to ponder the most important thing of my life. My Lord and the gift He gave to me and all others that want it.
Throughout my life I have often heard the term “coming to the foot of the cross” used. It is tossed around so easily that most do not take the time to really consider what it means. At first thought you may think it means believing Jesus is the way to eternal life. Now you would be correct but there is so much more.
When really contemplating the cross, one must contemplate Jesus and what He actually suffered when He made the choice to save humanity. He was beaten and humiliated, that’s for sure.That is only a flesh wound when compared to the rest.
When watching the movie Passion of the Christ I sob uncontrollably every time. I mean it is so bad my husband refuses to watch it with me because he can’t stand seeing me cry ever, let alone with great heaving shoulders. Really, it is that bad. Anyone know how hard it is to read subtitles while crying like that? Not sure if my kids are crying for me or Jesus but I have vowed to only watch it alone or with another crying mess like myself. I am not ashamed but I must be considerate of those around me.
The movie will never compare to what Jesus endured to save us. It only grazes the surface. We must ponder the weight placed on His shoulders. The weight of all sin and suffering because of sin for all time.
I know I have mentioned how I consider the weight of each sin to be like a brick. One brick isn’t that heavy but trillions upon trillions of bricks is unimaginable. I just can’t wrap my mind around it.
How strong and mighty is my Lord that He not only bore this weight but overcame it. His blood, the blood of the perfect Lamb that spilled that day so long ago washed me clean. He poured out the Spirit an ripped down the curtain so I can forever and always talk with Him. A piece of my God resides in my soul. He defeated death so I could have eternal life with Him.
That brings me to the foot of the cross. It reminds me that not only did Jesus die for me but he suffered the same pain I suffer. He felt the same sorrow and shame I have have felt. He did this because He loves me. He chose me. I make it personal because He made it personal. He did this for all of humanity. Even those that reject His gift. He paid their fine just as He paid mine.
So we are back to the foot of the cross. We have said that means believing Jesus is the son of God and the son of man. That is true but that is not what saves you. Even satan and his legion acknowledge that fact. Yet, they are not saved. They are damned. Belief is only a precursor to salvation for humanity.
So what is it? Simple. We acknowledge Him, we humbly ask His forgiveness, we swear our allegiance to Him and we serve Him. We literally lay ourselves at the foot of the cross and give ourselves to His will. Total submission. In return, because of His great mercy, we inherit eternity with Him. He stands council for us on the day of judgment. He paid our price on that cross and we our His. He leads us to victory after victory and we rejoice in him that loves us so much. We spend the rest of eternity in Him.
Wow! I mean wow oh wow!
Peace, love and God’s will.
The New Authors Fellowship 
Thanks for the awesome post, Diane. It’s good to be reminded of this every now and then. =)
Thank you, Chris. It really has been on my heart today.
Beautiful ponderings, Diane. I am always arrested at the symbolism of the veil that was torn. The veil separated the holy place, where the common person could go, from the holy of holies, where the ark of the covenant resided, where the presence of God abided under the old covenant. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies once a year to make sacrifice for Israel’s sins. He only entered after ritual cleansing and weeks of preparation, and he entered with a rope tied around his ankle, so that if he was struck dead, his body could be retrieved.
This veil separated the people from a holy God. No one could behold His glory and live under the old covenant.. But when Jesus, Emmanuel, God with Us, came, He became the sacrifice that would atone for everyone, for all time. He became the definitive mediator between God and man, so that no longer do we have to fear God’s wrath. In Jesus’ sacrifice, we are no longer separated from a holy God, but we stand complete in Him.
Hallelujah to the Lamb!!!
Thank you, Kathy. Isn’t He the most awesome thing? Please tell me you are a sobber also. :
So many thoughts enter my head as I read your post.
Are you going to leave me hanging, David? Must I always use the anvil with you? 😛
Nothing to hang by. Just letting you know a lot of thoughts entered my head. If I were to start typing them down, I might as well be writing a medium sized booklet. 😉
Writing should make us think and feel, David. I will take that as a great compliment. 😛
That picture is awesome! So very real, I like the artist’s translation and vision. I so want to kiss the feet of Jesus someday. When I see him I will hit the ground to kiss his holy feet and wash them with my tears of gratitude…I am still so much in awe of his sacrifice . And more so in awe of the relationship with Almighty God his sacrifice allowed for me. Perfect peace is within the prayer closet. I just heard a sermon by Joseph Prince entitled “Jesus is not your boyfriend”….it was so good. He is not courting us , He is married to our spirit. We are one together , each Christian. What a covenant !
It is the one contract I feel joy in entering into.
My dearest daughter,
My life has been so blessed that the almighty let me live long enough to see each of my children call out his name. I know that no matter what, we as a family will all fall to our knees……no, to our faces at the foot of his cross. This is up to and including my husband. I will be forever thankful to my Lord for this holy of all holy revelations.
I love you, Momma.
Not sure how well this will translate in the comment section, but looking at your post today caused me to think of a song by Petra – http://s0.ilike.com/play#Petra:Marks+Of+The+Cross:1294681:s5683.616.777.0.1.26%2Cstd_0e41f7debf21a917c878b8d717abbed3
And for those that are either just interested, or the link doesn’t work for you, here are the lyrics to Petra’s song –
Marks Of The Cross
These days shallow and feeble resolve abound
And true devotion and passionate fervor are seldom found
But there are those who often feel they’re all alone
Those of whose identities are known
By the mark of the crucified Son
(Chorus)
Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
Of the marks of the cross
These days the search for detachment and solitude
Lead to retreating to fortresses no one would dare intrude
Then there are those whose restless burdens start to show
Those who unmistakably most know
There’s no crown ’til we suffer the cross
(Chorus)
Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
Of the marks of the cross
All our identity rests in the knowledge
Of who we’re created to be
We are His workmanship, made in His image
For all of creation to see
The marks of His pain and His glory
(Chorus)
Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
Of the marks of the cross
An absolutely beautiful song and lyrics. Thank you, David.
I remember when The Passion of the Christ came out. I was accosted by one of my youth group puppeteers the morning after she saw it. “Oh, you’ve got to go!” she gushed. “It’s amazing!”
“That’s okay,” I replied. “I read the book.”
0 : – )
The movie can never compare, Robynn. 😀
You know, it’s strange. When I went to see the Passion, I was expecting a lot of blood and stuff. I was actually glad that Mel Gibson had chosen to go as far as he did with things because I had thought for a long time that the crucifixion shown in movies were so paltry compared to the description found in the prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament and actual accounts found in the Gospels.
So here I am sitting in the theater with a friend and people were getting up and leaving and the real stuff hadn’t even happened yet. When that occurred, even more people got up and left. When it was done and the trip to Golgotha began, I was probably the only one with the kind of mixed emotions that I had. On the one hand I was really glad for Mel Gibson. He had shown a whole lot more than any other film maker had ever shown before, and for that he deserves every reward in Heaven he’ll get for it, and the rewards for all the persecution that followed him in these years since the film (yes, he’s done some stupid of his own, but he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere near the bad press, or the problems that led to his bad choices if he hadn’t done that film for his Faith in Christ). Even so, I just felt it still wasn’t enough and that things could have been taken to a further extreme.
It’s not that I’m blood thirsty or that I “enjoyed” the violence. No, it’s just that part of me that wants to see things done as right as possible. And perhaps that really was as good as he could do it. Or as far as he thought people could handle visually. Ultimately, it’s a movie that is so profound and moving, and you just got to love that last scene! 😉
Terrific post Diane. We can never be reminded often enough that our faith is firmly rooted at the foot of the Cross. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We have been handed the most precious gift in the universe, wrapped in pure love. We cannot buy it or work for it, because that would make it something other than a gift. All we have to do is accept it. It’s so simple, yet people make it so complicated.
Thank you, Paul. Well said. 😀
Oh, and I forgot what I was going to say about The Passion…
Personally, I think Mel Gibson was treading a fine line between showing enough, and showing what really happened. Some time ago I did some research into the crucifixion, and it upset me more than The Passion did. I knew the film was pulling punches, but then I think if they showed the true horror of what Jesus endured for us, people would be physically ill. The crucifixion wan’t just execution, it was also a means of torture.
Many people have become physically ill from watching the movie. Plus, how can you transfer to film or words for that matter what it was really like for Jesus?
Nothing moves me more than contemplating on what my Savior did, is doing, and will do for me. Next best thing is a story that mirrors His love in a way that grips my heart.
Thank you for re-posting, Di.
You are welcome, Silly Girl. I am constantly in awe of His love.