At the Foot of the Cross

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It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun had stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.   Luke 23:44-45.

I’ve had the pleasure of staying at a beautiful North Carolina Christian conference center built on the Blue Ridge mountainside. It contains a large cross visible from part of the campus.

A dear friend of mine loves to room at the building closest to the cross, where she has a clear view of the impressive symbol of death and life. “I feel like I am sitting at the foot of the cross when I stay here.”

The cross symbolizes peace, made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice. It symbolizes hope of eternal life in Heaven, a place with no tears. It comforts the grieving. It offers forgiveness to all willing to receive it and clears the path to eternal life in Heaven.

However, the cross was also a scene of death, agony, contempt, and derision. Soldiers, the chief priest, elders, and teachers mocked Jesus openly, now that He was dying. Those passing by hurled insults at Him. Even one of the robbers crucified at His side ridiculed Him.

The Son of God bled to save them from their sins even as they scorned His sacrifice.

Then God turned His back on His Son for the first and only time. The sun stopped shining for three hours as Jesus hung suspended between Heaven and Earth. Something momentous was happening.

God turned a cruel method of execution into a symbol of peace, hope, and forgiveness for all of us.

The power of the cross is love—a Son’s obedient love for His Father and God’s sacrificial love for all His children.

He wants us to spend eternity with Him so badly that He paid the price of our admittance.

At the foot of the cross. Sounds like a good place to begin our journey.

-Sandra Merville Hart