The Gospel in a Nutshell. There is More to Come!
The Cross Was Not The End
The story of the cross is central to the gospel, but it was only a part of the story, not the final symbol. If it ended there, the cross would signify death, but now, it signifies so much more than that. See, when Jesus died on the cross that the Romans were using to subtract life, God turned it into a plus sign that adds life. Something that had been used as a means to an end, God turned into a new beginning. A beginning of so much more to come for Christ and for us. This cross of crucifixion and death can be seen as a forever more cross when we focus on the 'more to come' aspect of it. Things didn't end on that cross, they had only begun and the empty tomb is proof of that fact. Christ's sacrifice was only the beginning of a never-ending story of love. He died for our sins, He rose again to give us hope, and He will return one day to take us home. So what does this mean for us?
What The Forever More Plus Cross Means to Us
The cross didn't take our Savior away, it gave Him to us More Cross Means For Us every single day for the rest of eternity. Where access to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit was limited, the cross and resurrection made it unlimited. Because of that cross, we now have uninterrupted access to the one who controls the universe. This means that we can go to God for anything and everything. It means that the door to His throne has been flung wide open through the cross, and in it, we can find more of everything. More love, more healing, more comfort, more guidance, more hope, more freedom, more power, more life, and most importantly, more of Him. He is more than enough, He has more than enough, and He can do more than enough in your life.
Defeat Turned Into Hope
When we think of the sacrifice of Jesus, the image of the cross often comes to mind. We think of the fact that Jesus carried the cross on our behalf and was crucified on it for the forgiveness of our sins. We recall how He suffered in our place and how His body hanging on that cross changed the course of humanity. The image of the cross brings to mind the suffering Jesus had to go through, and that can be very convicting, which is good. Conviction and gratitude for what Christ has done are important in our Christian walk. It's the reason the cross is still highly symbolic to our faith today and the reason it should never be forgotten.
However, what's also important is to remember that Jesus died for a purpose. He didn't die to glorify death and despair, but to share and bring hope. We are eternally grateful for the sacrifice on the cross, but what gives us hope for the future is the empty tomb. The cross is a symbol of our Savior's suffering and sacrifice but the empty tomb is a symbol of His victory.
Focus On The Hope Found
The empty tomb is proof of God's power and faithfulness. It's proof that no matter how much we suffer today, there is still hope for tomorrow. Jesus suffered to the point of death but when He left the tomb empty, He proved that nothing is impossible for God. While the cross shows us how much God loves us, the empty tomb shows us that He truly never fails. Even when it seemed like all hope was lost, it wasn't, God was still working in the waiting. God was still preparing the way for victory.
Share The Promise
So if you're suffering today, if you feel like you're surrounded by darkness, and all hope is lost, remember how the story of the crucifixion ends. The Son of God suffered too, He was placed in complete darkness too, but then the stone was rolled and the light came in. Death was defeated and hope was found. The story started with suffering but it ended with triumph. It started with sorrow but it ended in joy. What seemed like the end was only the beginning of a better tomorrow.
So as you go about your day, let hope arise in your heart. And remember, that the God who raised Jesus from the dead, is the same God who fights for you today, and He will be faithful to complete what is started in your life as well.
In a Nutshell:
1. Christ died for our sins on the cross. (There is more to come.)
2. On the Third Day HE stepped out of the tomb. (A promise fulfilled, and another promise of Hope)
3. Jesus met with HIS disciples before HE ascended into Heaven. (HE equipped his disciples to share the good news with the world. We are called to be disciples).
4. He said, " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
We are called to Share HIS story to the world.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Bradley Kellie creates Christian Jewelry to help you share your story, and tell HIS.
