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Kari Jobe- "Forever" (Live)
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The Deep
Summit
of
the Cross
by Joseph Franklin Arrendale
There are many paradoxes that might be developed from the events of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but one sticks out the most to me. Indeed, this may be because it is the most fundamental paradox in the history of the universe. I am often fascinated by the different viewpoints concerning the crucifixion of Christ between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The crucifixion of Christ in the Catholic Church is often viewed with great sorrow and emotional distress, focusing upon the trials and agony that the Son of God endured out of His inestimable love for humanity. In the Orthodox tradition, however, the cross of Christ is viewed more in hindsight as a throne of victory over the forces of death leading up to His salvific resurrection in power and glory. I think that, if we are to be accurate (as far as is possible) concerning the mystery of Christ's Lenten event, then we must try to view the event as a both/and rather than an either/or.
In one sense, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the single worst moment that has ever happened in history. God Incarnate condescended to earth to lovingly dwell in our midst, and we hung Him on a cross by His wrists and feet until He breathed His last. I think it is safe to say that the cosmic significance of how terrible this event was cannot be adequately conceptualized by our finite minds.
However, there is the other side of the paradox. Out of the worst event ever, God the Father secured His victory over the forces of sin and death forever, and Christ the Son rose from the dead to show that death is not the end, and that love always conquers. The cross was vindicated absolutely by design, and Christ laid down His life on His own accord to secure the path of salvation for all. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 ESV).
* What might the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean for how you interpret world events in all of their harshness or sweetness?
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What does the extravagant extent of Christ's sacrificial love for us teach us about how to love and be loved?
Joseph Franklin Arrendale
is aspiring to be a professor of theology and is working towards obtaining his
Masters in Theology (May 2017).
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