Why the Cross Matters
We see it in churches, on memorials, as jewelry and tattoos, and featured in art. It is the cross. The cross is one of the most significant symbols in human history, representing the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the ultimate expression of God's love. The crucifixion of Jesus changed the course of history and provided a path for salvation.
To understand why the cross matters, we must reflect on the depth of what occurred on the terrible day of Christ’s crucifixion and what it must have meant for God the Father.
Jesus' death on the cross was not a tragic mishap; it was the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption. Sin had separated humanity from God, and no amount of effort could restore that relationship. The law, sacrifices, and religious rituals in the Old Testament were only temporary measures pointing toward the ultimate sacrifice—a perfect and blameless Savior who would bear the sins of the world.
When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He took upon Himself the punishment that mankind deserved. Every sin committed—past, present, and future—was placed upon Him. He bore the full weight of God's wrath. The cross therefore signifies the harmonious meeting of justice and mercy. God's justice required that sin be punished, and His mercy provided a way for forgiveness. Without the cross, humanity would remain lost and eternally separated from God.
Imagine what the Father must have felt as His Son endured such torment. Any loving parent would be shattered to witness their child suffer so much. And though God had the power to stop it at any moment, He didn’t. He allowed His Son to be beaten, spat upon, mocked, and crucified.
This was not a moment of indifference but of immense love.
God's sorrow at the crucifixion was unimaginable. At the most painful point, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) This was not only a reaction to physical pain but the anguish of being separated from the Father. For the first time, Jesus felt the horror of abandonment, because He was carrying the full weight of sin. Of course, the Father hadn’t truly abandoned Him, but the judgment of sin required this moment of separation.
God's heart must have been breaking as He watched His Son in torment. And yet, He allowed it—because He loves us. This is what makes the cross so significant. Jesus' suffering had a purpose, one that required tremendous sacrifice from both the Son and the Father. It was the ultimate demonstration of love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The cross stands as a reminder that no greater love exists than the love God has for humanity.
The cross matters because it offers hope, redemption, and a restored relationship with God. It reminds us that God's love is greater than our sin and that His sacrifice was the ultimate act of grace and love. As we reflect on what Jesus endured and what it must have been like for the Father to watch, we should be moved to gratitude, worship, and a deeper commitment to following Christ. More than an historical marker, the cross is the very foundation of our faith. Through it, we find redemption and life.