“He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:14

When I was a little kid growing up in church, I often heard songs about how beautiful the Cross is. I remember thinking, “what is so beautiful about a cross? A two-year-old could draw that!” As I became a little older and understood a little more, I was even more confused; “How can an instrument of torture be beautiful?!” But as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve come to appreciate the unfathomable beauty of the Cross. The Cross is beautiful because it shows two of the most beautiful, but seemingly contradictory attributes of God.

The Cross demonstrates the fact that our God is just. Evil must be dealt with. Sin must be punished. Why is this beautiful? Because there is nothing I can think of more frightening than an all-powerful god who is unjust. But at the same time, the Cross demonstrates God’s mercy. The Cross is where Christ took the punishment that belonged to you and me. In some incredible way, God has taken this ugly instrument of torture and made it the place where he has shown his perfect justice and his incredible mercy, all at the same time. Oh, the wondrous Cross!

So, next time you see the Cross, let it remind you of how perfectly just and amazingly merciful our God is. Behold the beauty of the Cross!

Almighty, just Father full of grace and mercy, we come to You in awe of the Cross of Jesus Christ. We stand amazed at the perfect plan You put in place to demonstrate Your powerful justice and Your loving mercy, all on the hill of Calvary. Let us live every moment of our lives in awe of, and in submission to the wonderous Cross.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon