Read: John 19:17-30
And I, when I am lifted up . . . will draw all people to myself. (John 12:32)
Beneath the cross of Jesus was not a nice place to be. The sights and sounds and smells of that place on that day would have been utterly revolting. None of us would really have wanted to stand beneath it. Most of the people who were there kept their distance.
The earliest visual symbols of the Christian faith were the fish and the Good Shepherd. The cross wasn’t used until much later, after the reality of a Roman crucifixion had faded from the public imagination. Eventually the cross became the defining sign of Christianity. In medieval Europe, pilgrims flocked to churches and monasteries that claimed to have a piece of the true cross. And still today crosses are popular as decor and personal jewelry.
For us as Christians, to display or wear a cross is not just a matter of personal taste or aesthetics. Paul describes the gospel as “the word of the cross” (1 Cor. 1:18), that is, the message of how Jesus died to save us. Jesus himself said that he would be lifted up as Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). When Jesus was literally lifted up on Good Friday, most of those who saw it made fun of him. But when he is lifted up today—in our preaching, our praises, our prayers—he does draw many to himself, me included.
As you pray, commit yourself to lifting up the cross wherever you go today.
About the Author
Rev. David Bast
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, includingWhy Doesn't God Act More Like God,Christ in the Psalms, andA Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
