The Glory of the Cross
Rex Yancey
Galatians 6:14
Off the coast of South China, on a high hill overlooking the harbor of Macao is a huge wall. The wall is the only thing that remains from the massive cathedral that Portuguese settlers built on that hill hundreds of years ago.
A typhoon hit that cathedral, literally reducing it to ruins. Everything except the wall was totally leveled. High on top of that hill stands a huge bronze cross.
There is a fascinating and oft told story that John Bowering was inspired to write his hymn, In The Cross Of Chirst I Glory, as the result of hearing about this cross that towered over the wrecks of time.
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time;
All the lights of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the sun of bliss is beaming,
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming,
Adds more luster to the day.
This song could have been the theme song of the Apostle Paul. He had much he could have boasted about when he was alive. In his day he was the church's greatest preacher, missionary, theologian, writer and apologist.
However, he boasted in nothing but the cross. Of all the things on his resume he could have boasted about, he boasted about nothing but the cross. It wasn't just a cross but the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The cross was nothing to glory about 2,000 years ago. It was offensive to three major cultures. The Romans used the cross as a means of execution for everyone except their own citizens. Cicero, a Roman statesman said, "Even the mere word "cross" must remain far from the lips of a Roman citizen, and from their thoughts, eyes and ears."
The Jews saw crucifixion as hanging. The OT said that he that was hanged was accursed of God.
The Greeks saw the cross as foolishness, as nonsense. I am afraid there are those wamong us today who suffer from a crossless Christianity. People are being told toda ...
Rex Yancey
Galatians 6:14
Off the coast of South China, on a high hill overlooking the harbor of Macao is a huge wall. The wall is the only thing that remains from the massive cathedral that Portuguese settlers built on that hill hundreds of years ago.
A typhoon hit that cathedral, literally reducing it to ruins. Everything except the wall was totally leveled. High on top of that hill stands a huge bronze cross.
There is a fascinating and oft told story that John Bowering was inspired to write his hymn, In The Cross Of Chirst I Glory, as the result of hearing about this cross that towered over the wrecks of time.
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time;
All the lights of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the sun of bliss is beaming,
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming,
Adds more luster to the day.
This song could have been the theme song of the Apostle Paul. He had much he could have boasted about when he was alive. In his day he was the church's greatest preacher, missionary, theologian, writer and apologist.
However, he boasted in nothing but the cross. Of all the things on his resume he could have boasted about, he boasted about nothing but the cross. It wasn't just a cross but the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The cross was nothing to glory about 2,000 years ago. It was offensive to three major cultures. The Romans used the cross as a means of execution for everyone except their own citizens. Cicero, a Roman statesman said, "Even the mere word "cross" must remain far from the lips of a Roman citizen, and from their thoughts, eyes and ears."
The Jews saw crucifixion as hanging. The OT said that he that was hanged was accursed of God.
The Greeks saw the cross as foolishness, as nonsense. I am afraid there are those wamong us today who suffer from a crossless Christianity. People are being told toda ...
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