Some years ago, I visited the Maltese cross (see photo), an impressive rock formation in the Cederberg Mountains, about 200 km north of Cape Town. After a couple of hours’ walk up the mountain, I stood before the 20 m high rock formation. Not everyone reaches this cross. Some don’t know about it, others will not even consider the hike, others walk for a distance up the mountain but then give up and return. But those who reach the top are surprised and deeply moved by this natural wonder.
About 2000 years ago there was a simple cross, planted on a small hill named Golgotha. A Man was fastened to a cross with nails through his hands and feet. This cross became the most important and best-known cross ever. Because the Man on the cross was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came in the flesh to reveal the nature of God and to save us. The Bible calls that which  happened on the cross and the resurrection thereafter, the essence of the Gospel – this is the Gospel (1 Cor.15: 3, 4): I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures; that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures.
Unfortunately, as with the Maltese cross, not everyone makes it to the cross of Golgotha. They may not know about the cross, or are not interested therein, or they don’t remain on the road thereto. To reach the Maltese cross is difficult. To reach the cross of Golgotha is easy. Because you’ve actually been there already, 2000 years ago. The Bible tells us so (Rom. 6: 5-8): If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with … Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. Also (Col. 2:20): You have died with Christ. It sounds impossible, for 2000 years ago we weren’t alive yet. But the Bible puts it this way to teach us something. On the cross, the Bible teaches us, Jesus paid for all our sins so completely as if every one of us were at the cross, we ourselves were crucified and we ourselves paid for all our sins!
Forgiveness is a gift that God offers us. Accept this offer of redemption. When you reach the cross of Golgotha you will be surprised and gripped by the wonder thereof – the wonder of God’s love and grace.
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Our Father, thank you that Jesus paid for all my sins on the cross. Amen.
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