Reflections on the Cross

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

This passage relates one of the earliest creeds of the church. The Apostle Paul is using two rabbinic code words for tradition - “delivered” and “received”, translated as ‘passed on to you’ and ‘passed on to me’ in the NLT. This is noteworthy because the understanding and acceptance of Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross dates to the first disciples. ‘Creed’ indicates basic beliefs, the starting point for faith.

According to Ewell and Beitzel, this creed combined two major themes: fulfillment of OT prophecy and substitutionary atonement.*

“Christ died for our sins.” Such a simple statement, yet so all-encompassing. In another place, it says that Jesus literally became a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13) Jesus willingly said, ‘Take me.’ He served as our substitute. He died for (on behalf of) us.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:6-8)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my substitute on the cross. Before I ever knew or could understand that I need a Savior, you came with a willing heart full of love for me, for us, for them, for everyone. You became a curse so that I could be blessed. You bore my sin so that I could become righteous. You died so that I can live. Jesus, may I live in a way that acknowledges you and your love. Amen.

*Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Crucifixion. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 557). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Scripture passages: Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation.. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.