“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
A wall in my office is adorned with crosses. This seems strange in that the cross is the most horrifying instrument of death ever known to humanity. The Jewish historian Josephus called crucifixion “the most wretched of deaths.” The Roman philosopher Cicero said, “it is altogether so disgusting and shameful that Romans and Greeks should not even speak of it because it is not fit for good, decent people to even mention it. It is unsuitable for polite conversation.” According to the Jewish law, anyone who was crucified died under the curse of God. And yet Jesus submitted Himself to this execution. The cross is the way that Jesus Christ chose to die the death we should have died, paying the price we should have paid. Truly Jesus paid it all.
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.
