What is the Cross of Jesus?

The symbol of the cross. Originally a tool for the death penalty, now it is used as a symbol of beauty even for jewelry. There's a mystery here. After Adam and Eve sinned, God promised to send a Savior. Over time, as mankind spread across the globe, God entrusted His promise to certain people. These people were not psychics, but true prophets who were given divine insight and revelation from God. With that insight, they gradually revealed God's promise in anticipation of the Savior. Across thousands of years, God's Word has been recorded by His prophets. Over 300 prophecies about the Savior were recorded. They talked about where, when and of what family lineage the Savior was to be born, how He would live, how He would die, and how He would rise from the grave. In all of human history, only Jesus Christ has fulfilled each and every prophesy, which were written more than 700 years before His birth. No one else even comes close. At Christmas time, the whole world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Though His life eventually led to a horrific death on the cross. It is incomprehensible. Remember, God wants us to be part of His family but because we are sinful, we are separated from Him. Our fallen nature prevents us from becoming righteous on our own. So God sent his beloved Son, Jesus, from heaven to earth. Jesus was born as a human being and lived a holy life and then offered up His perfect life as an offering. We needed One who is without sin and shame to be the perfect sacrifice and offering to God in our place. God wants us to be reunited with us so much that He did not hold back anything, not even His own Son We may think that it is too much for God to give Jesus in this way. Couldn't there be another way? Perhaps we can better understand by looking at something we see in our daily lives... Before we eat a meal we say, "Itadakimasu". [Itadakimasu means "I'm receiving this."] We are receiving the life of our food to sustain our own. In order for us to live, our food must die. In this common practice we see something pointing to Jesus Christ. Similarly, we can only have new life because of the death of Jesus Christ. It's sad that the plants and animals we eat must die for our food, but a beautiful and delicious meal gives us joy and the energy we need to live. In the same way, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is tragically sad, but it provides us immense joy, beauty and life. In the end, the cross, which is an instrument of death has become an object of beauty. It means the chasm between us and God has been closed. The Savior has victory over The Fall. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 Written 700 years before Christ's birth. 5. What is Salvation? is next.