Some years ago TIME magazine asked a group of Americans to rate one hundred famous events in history as to their significance. The results of that poll are quite amazing. Number one was Columbus' discovery of America. Three events tied for fourteenth on the list: the discovery of X-rays, the Wright brother's first plane flight, and the crucifixion of Jesus. Notice that: Jesus tied for fourteenth.
That poll indicates that you and I have not done a very good job of communicating to the world the meaning of the cross.
Someone has said that at the heart of the Bible is the Gospel. At the heart of the Gospel is the cross. At the heart of the cross is the very love of God.
The CHRISTIAN CENTURY carried a story several years ago about a young man named Lou Marshall who at one time was a student at Yale Divinity School and worked in one of New York City's worst slum neighborhoods. His ministry was to a few of the city's teenaged gang members. In fact, he was instrumental in heading off a potentially bloody rumble between two of the gangs, the Young Untouchables and The Playboys. It was while he was walking home from mediating this dispute that he was attacked by four gang members who resented his interference in gang affairs. Lou Marshall was beaten senseless on the streets of New York City and left in a pool of his own blood by four young men he was trying to help. Two days later, he died.
At the memorial service attended by members of both gangs whose battle he had headed off the Reverend Howard Moody, pastor of the Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village said, "Lou's death is a testimony of our as human beings and a city of people to build a place where people can dwell together in peace. Some people will say that the crumbling pavement on which he died wasn't worth his life so full of promise and hope others might say that he was foolish to become involved in a way that was so dangerous. Still I believe that street has been made more holy because a man's blood was shed-a man who had the courage to stand there for what he believed was right. Early Christians believed that because of the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, the world would be a different and better place. Peter wrote,`You were ransomed from your futile ways not with perishable things such as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ.'" (1)
I believe a sacrifice like that deserves a greater ranking than fourteenth, don't you? The cross is the ultimate symbol we have not only man's of cruelty, but of God's compassion. It is God's most complete act of affirmation of the creatures into whom he breathed his own Spirit. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."
THE CROSS MEANS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT GOD SEES US AS PERSONS OF VITAL WORTH. It is easy to grow pessimistic about the human race. It is easy to expose our weaknesses, our barbarities. A story came out of World War II about a young captain on a battlefield who saw a sergeant who had been seriously wounded. The captain responded by running out on the battlefield and dragging the sergeant to safety. As he was dragging the sergeant to safety, however, the captain was struck by a bullet. Later he died from the wound. The sergeant, however, made a full recovery and with time went home. Sometime later the sergeant was invited to dinner at the home of the captain's parents. He arrived late, half intoxicated, and was impolite. After a beautiful dinner, he hurried on without saying a word about the captain's act of bravery. The mother of the slain captain burst into tears and said to her husband, "To think that our son had to die to save a thing like that." (2) It is easy to have the same feelings about Christ's death in our behalf. We are not worth it! How could we ever deserve it? Such love is beyond our comprehension.
There is an old story about a woman who was vacationing in Florida where she discovered a very valuable piece of art that was being sold. She sent her husband a telegram describing the work and informing him of the price. Her husband wired her back immediately, whereupon she went directly to the gallery and purchased the piece of art. Taking it home with her, she was greeted by her husband who was irate. "I wired you direct instructions," he said, "that you were not to purchase that work." She was flabbergasted. "I have your wire right here," she said. "Read it for yourself." He did and learned how important punctuation is, for the telegram read, "No price too high." He had intended to say, "No! Price too high." Instead, the message was communicated, "No price too high."
It is beyond our comprehension that the God of all creation could look at our pitiful lives and conclude that no price is too high to redeem us from sin and death. But that is the testimony of the Gospel. Indeed, that is the Gospel. GOD SEES US ALL AS PERSONS OF VITAL WORTH.
Does that not say to us, in the second place, that GOD SEES NOT ONLY OUR VITAL WORTH BUT ALSO INFINITE POTENTIAL? Why else would he go to such trouble. God is not finished with us. He must see in us something very special that perhaps we cannot see.
I got a chuckle out of a true story about a very diplomatic young man who arrived unannounced at a certain young lady's house. She came to the door with her hair "teased" in about six million directions. Do you know what I am talking about? Her hair looked like she might have accidentally inserted her finger in a light socket. It was a very awkward moment. There was nothing she could do but try to make light of the situation, so she asked good-naturedly, "How do you like my hair?" He stood there for a moment and then replied, "It looks as if it's about to become something wonderful." (3)
I have a feeling that is just how God must see us. Our lives may seem a mess, but deep within us he must see potential majesty.
There was once a young Polish girl named Marie Sklondowska who sat in a classroom and heard her professor say, "Some of you have stars at your fingertips." Those words made a deep impression on young Marie. Marie went on to study science at the Sorbonne in Paris where she fell in love with one of her teachers, Pierre Curie. They married and reached for the stars together. The way was long and rugged. They were laughed at and almost starved. On the verge of admitting failure they walked into their laboratory one night to see their evaporation dishes aglow in the darkness. They had discovered a new element the element radium, so useful in our world today. (4)
The stars are at our fingertips. Do you not sense it? We may never achieve greatness in a worldly sense as did the Curies, but we can be more than we ever dreamed possible. But how, we may ask? How can I move from where I am to where God means for me to be?
The answer has to do with taking up a cross. When we recognize our worth in the eyes of God, when we understand that we have potential within us yet to be realized, THEN WE HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE UP THE CROSS OF JESUS THE CROSS OF COMMITMENT AND LOVE AND SERVICEMAN TO WALK IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.
There is nothing more discouraging than to hear a congregation sing mournfully, like a funeral dirge, "Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free...." as if the cross were some terrible burden that God places on humankind. You probably know that little parable that tells how when birds first received wings, they thought that God was seeking to saddle them with some terrible burden. So it is with the cross. There is a cost to bearing a cross. It means that you can never look at your life in the same way again. It might even mean that you would lose your life. But it is the cross that gives our lives wings-for the cross represents our giving our best to a cause greater than ourselves.
Bertoldo de Giovanni knew what that kind of commitment was all about. You may not be familiar with Bertoldo's name. In his own time, he was an important sculptor. Today he is all but forgotten. Except that he had a pupil whose name was Michelangelo.
Michelangelo was only fourteen years old when he came to Bertoldo. It was apparent, however, that this young man was enormously gifted. Bertoldo knew that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, therefore, he was persistent in seeking to instill in young Michelangelo a desire to give himself completely to his work. One day he came into the studio and found Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities. Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room and smashed the work into tiny pieces shouting as he did, "Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly." (5)
Dedication is costly. It cost Matthew his life by a sword in Ethiopia. It cost Mark his life at the hands of a mob in Alexandria. Luke was hanged on an olive tree in Greece. It cost the Apostle John banishment on the Isle of Patmos. The once doubting Thomas paid the price on a lance. James the Greater was decapitated at Jersualem. James the Less was thrown from the Pinnacle of the Temple, then clubbed to death. Bartholomew was flayed alive. Peter was crucified in Rome with his head downward. Andrew witnessed to Christ right up to the moment of his own death on a cross. Jude was shot with an arrow. Make no mistake about it. This gospel we treasure was paid for in blood. But that is the secret of its greatness. "Talent is cheap, dedication is costly."
You and I need this message of the cross, because we are tempted to believe there is some other way. Husbands and wives want to have lasting marriages, but they want to do it without it costing them their fidelity and freedom. Parents want to raise Christian children, but they don't want to pay the price of setting the kind of example necessary to help children know the Jesus way of living. Church members want a church that is vital and alive in the community, but they want someone else to bear the burden. Each of us in our individual pursuits want to contribute something lasting to this world, but we want to do it from an armchair with one hand on a TV dial. And it cannot be done.
Jesus once compared the Kingdom of God to a pearl of great price. What he was saying was this. It's worth the price. Indeed, "No price too great!" My friend, you are of vital worth to God. He sees in you infinite potential. There is only one way to become what God has created you to be. It is the way of love, commitment and service. It is the way of the cross.
1. I am grateful to Dr. Joe Harding, Richlands, Washington for this illustration.
2. Ray and Ann Ortland, THE BEST HALF OF LIFE (Waco: Word Books, 1976).
3. Harold C. Bennett, REFLECTIONS ON FAITH (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983).
4. John Bishop, A WORD IN SEASON (Nashville: Abingdon, 1979).
5. Garin Inrig, A CALL TO EXCELLENCE (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985).