By Dr. Zelhou Keyho
No one aspect of the three (the Manger, the Cross and the Resurrection) explains in its entirety what Christians believe. The birth leading to the cross and to the resurrectionbringour belief and faith to completion. The love, forgiveness and the glorious hope for Christian is what we believe and look forward to. Many today leave Jesus at the manger without following him to the cross and the resurrection. For this reason , we become powerless Christians.
Christmas is thestarting point of our salvation. It doesn’t end there. This passion/holy week we must also go back to the Manger to consider the deep love of God for us. Onlythen,the cross, the symbol of suffering and shame make sense where God allowedhis son to die the death we deserve (Romans 6:23).
The ugly side of thecross makes things beautiful onthe other side. We come across two contradictory situations. On the one hand, we seetheagony of rejection, thesuffering andthe pain whichJesus endured on the cross forus. Onthe other hand, we see the intense expression of love and sacrifice.“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but your will be done” (Luke 22:44). In pain and in suffering Jesus was willing endure whatever the Father intends for our salvation. So much pain in doing the Father’s will that Jesus should utter such as this: “MyGod, my God why has Thou forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46). On the cross, oursin intersected with the holiness God.
The pain and sufferingbecome the fountain from which forgiveness and healing flowedIncomprehensible love was demonstrated on the cross. Thiswhy Paul said to the Corinthians, the cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks but to those who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation (1 Corinthians1:22). The cross on which Jesus died accomplishes our redemption. Atlast when all is said and done Jesus himself declared, “It is Finished” (John 19:30), to the hearing of his tormentors. It is done. Accomplished. Paid in full.
The hymn written by Jessie Hunter Brown explains it best when she wrote:“The way of the cross leads home, and I must go by the blood sprinkled way. For the way of the cross leads home. “Without the cross we have no other way to make it to God.
Thestory of our salvation doesn’t end there. We have a glorious future, a glorious hope to which we all await. Faith is incomplete without our glorious hope and that glorious hope lies in the resurrection. What value is there when we cannot look beyond what we believe? Our faith would be a dead faith.
The manger and the cross areincomplete without the resurrection. What if Christian faith ends in death? The eternal life that Jesus came to give would be considered as the biggest lie. We will have no message of hope and our faith will be futile. Christian hope in eternal life and the resurrection is not a preference. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, few things needbe noted so that resurrection becomes a reality and not just an event.
1. The Christian’s bodily resurrection directly corresponds to that of Christ’s (1 Cor 15:12-28).
2. Resurrection is central to the gospel message (1Cor 15:4).
3. Resurrection gives hope beyond this life (1Cor 15:35-49).
4. Resurrection declares the ultimate triumph of Jesus over sin and death (1Cor 15:54-57).
Our salvation is complete becauseChrist submitted himself to the will of God on the cross . The penalty of sin paid in full for us. To those who believe a glorious future is assured. This glorious future is sealed through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The manger brought the love of God to humanity. On the cross,Christ took the punishment and the judgement of God for our sin and disobedience. The resurrection give us a glorious future, an eternity with God.
