The Shadow of the Cross

The hour of Christ’s glorification had come. He was standing in the shadow of the cross, and knew that the sacrifice he was about to make would bring many sons and daughters to God. They would see Jesus placed beside Barabbas, a robber and murderer who would be chosen for release before the Son of God. They would hear the people, inspired by the priests and rulers, making their choice of the murderer. And to the question, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” The answer would be given, “Let him be crucified.”

By making this propitiation for the sins of men, Christ knew that his Kingdom would be perfect, extending throughout the world. For a moment he looked into the future, and in his mind he heard the voices proclaiming in all parts of the earth, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”.

Jesus saw a great harvest, when the partition wall between Jew and Gentile would be broken down, and all nations would hear the message of salvation. The hour is come, that the son of man should be glorified. Only by his death could the world be saved. Like a grain of wheat, the Son of Man must be cast into the ground and die, to be buried out of sight and to live again. The death of Christ on the cross at Calvary will bear fruit unto eternal life. Christ is the example of self-sacrifice that we all should learn and follow.

Bro Melusi Ndlovu (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe)