Easter reminds us that two thousand years ago, six events took place in 24 hours that changed the world forever. Those six events have changed everything, and life has never been the same. History was split by what happened in this 24 hour period. People still talk about it. Movies are made about it. The six events were: Jesus was betrayed by Judas, abandoned by his friends, despite the fact that thousands welcomed him into the city on Palm Sunday. He was denied by his followers, tried by his accusers, tortured by Roman guards, and crucified by his enemies.
The Victory of the Cross
A big question hangs in the air: why did a supposedly all powerful God allow these six events to happen? Why did Jesus go through all that suffering? Why was he subject to a grueling, gruesome, horrendous, brutal death? Was there any good in all of this?
- What really happened at the cross?
- If I really “get” what happened at the cross, how does that change my life?
The most famous verse in the Bible is probably John 3:16. You see it everywhere, even at football games! It reads:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16–17
If you wanted to make a one-liner for the Bible that would probably be it. When I read this famous verse one thing jumps out that is frequently forgotten, “for God did not send his Son to condemn the world.” It’s interesting; we don’t really trust that God is not in the condemnation business! We may be like that but God is most definitely not. Nor was Jesus.
The Mystery of the Cross
Max Lucado, a famous Christian author, wrote about the cross in his book No Wonder They Call Him the Savior:
“The cross. It rests on the timeline of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers. . .History has idolized it and despised it, gold-plated it and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything to it but ignore it. That’s the one option that the cross does not offer. No one can ignore it! You can’t ignore a piece of lumber that suspends the greatest claim in history. . . .Its bottom line is sobering: if the account is true, it is history’s hinge. Period. If not, it is history’s hoax. That’s why the cross is what matters.”
Figuring out what is true
Something significant happened that day on the cross but you have to have eyes to see it. A revolution of heart took place. When Jesus uttered his exhausted words, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they do” a seismic shift in the Universe occurred. Why else would a seemingly insignificant event; the killing of a poor, 
itinerant Jewish preacher be remembered? Under the direst of circumstances Jesus did not forget who he was; he practiced sacrificial love, living for the sake of others and ultimately died for the sake of others. He refused to be defeated, to hate, to become cynical. Cynicism is easy but he chose love. He showed all humanity and more importantly, God, what it means to be fully human. Although, the enemy of love, Satan, has dominated people’s heart since the tragic fall of Adam and Eve, Satan could not touch Jesus and by extension, anyone who stands with Jesus.
To understand the victory of the cross you have to understand what went before it. God must have felt incredible pain as He watched human beings, born to be His direct, lineal children descend into suffering and to the position of servant of servants, instead of heirs to Heaven. Rev. Moon described it well in a sermon:
“With the fall of the first human ancestors, all humanity descended into a hell of hopelessness from which their efforts alone would never free them. (The guy in prison can’t free him or herself. You need help.) Their five spiritual senses became paralyzed. They fell into a state, similar to a blind person. Their eyes appear to be normal but don’t function at all. Forced to live with just their five physical senses, they were only half human. They could not see God. They could not hear His voice for feel His touch. So how could they experience His love as their own Parent or understand His suffering heart?”
A world without parents
Because Adam and Eve turned away and lost their connection to God, their Heavenly Parent, their own children, Cain and Abel, were in one sense orphans. They had physical parents but did not receive true parental love. This was a problem, not just for them, but for all the people that came after them. The societies and cultures that descended from Cain and Abel were and are limited. Even though the Bible determines that Abel was closer to God than Cain, the reality is both brothers were not fully connected. Therefore, the highest realm of heart that the cultures of the world can ascend to is brotherly love. In terms of the development of heart, brotherly love is lower than parental love. While siblings care for each other, it is not the same as the love of parents. Sibling culture is characterized by a tendency to pull people to one side or the other; barriers are created rooted in self-created, conflicting interests, keeping people apart because they don’t realize they come from one root. The divide is a reflection of 
immaturity. Such cultures are limited in their capacity to love and see the big picture. They lack the perspective that considers the benefit of all. William Golding wrote a chilling description of such a society in “Lord of the Flies.” Rev. Moon often said that we need to go beyond left wing and right wing ideologies and establish “head wing” thought or parent-ism.
Parents value each and every child and a culture rooted in parental love would be rooted in absolute values rather than sibling rivalry. A parent can’t sleep until every child is safe and adequately nurtured. History is the search for the unconditional love of parents in which each and every person’s true value is recognized. This is why Rev. Moon said the Messiah comes as the True Parent to restore love and bring people back to their rightful position as God’s sons and daughters.
“We long for God’s kingdom because it is the place we find love. It is the place where, rather than temporary love, there exists the eternal love that transcends time. It is also a place where we can receive praise and acknowledgement for the entirety of our value. It is the place where people are eternally happy. This is why all people yearn for the heavenly kingdom.”
Even on the cross, Jesus kept a true parental heart for his enemies and would not compromise God’s values. He was unfailingly loyal to God and had unconditional love for all people. What looked like any other Friday to most of the ancient world at that time, has been remembered because this seemingly inconsequential death sentence brought life to the world since Jesus made God’s parental love substantial. Finally, someone had received the true love of God and could pass it on. This was the victory of the cross.
Who did Jesus pass his love on to?
What really happens when people encounter Jesus? To find out, we can look to the people who were at the cross:
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” – John 19:25–27
These three people who were at the foot of the cross had a special relationship with Jesus. He wanted to make sure they would care for each other and keep the love that he planted alive. Jesus came to plant the seed of one family under God and his followers who all had their own inadequacies were, nevertheless, the people to carry on the mission that Jesus started.
It’s all about relationship
A few years ago Forbes magazine wanted to do an interview on what CEOs of large corporations could learn from pastors of large churches. Ray Johnston was chosen for an interview and shared his story:
“We had a fascinating three-hour conversation . . . and their last question was the best question. They asked, “What is the most important thing that you have learned in the last ten years?” I replied, “That’s easy. Here it is: the ‘Solution to Everything’ is the right person.” I explained that in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel prospered with the right leader and declined under the wrong leader. I also said, “By the way, that is also the central message of the Bible! The solution to everything is not the right religion . . . or the right rituals. The solution to everything is a relationship with the right person, and Christians believe that person is Jesus Christ.”
This was a fascinating interview. Our society, which is so quick to idolize musicians, has become allergic to the idea that we just might need a relationship with a Messiah!
Where is such a relationship found? What makes it possible? The spiritual victory won on the cross opened the possibility of a relationship with Jesus for everyone who wants one, not just the few people who were gathered there that fateful Friday.
Ephesians 2:19 says “You are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are . . .. [members] of God’s household” That means, because of the cross, you belong in God’s family.It takes every one of us to make God’s household complete.
The victory of the cross won the day and opens a new relationship with God.
Responding to God’s desire for a relationship with you
Jesus was willing to die for us. His famous words, “…Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will” call out across the centuries. What difference does that make? What happens when we really “get” the message of the cross?
Confidence in God
When we really get the victory of the cross, we become confident in God. To know God is with you is huge!
Believing in His Love
We discover our value through the victory of the cross. When we really get the message, we become confident in God’s love. The Bible affirms it like this:
“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
“We are now members of God’s own family. . . . And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you . . . and God, in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him.” – 1 Peter 1:3–5
Believing in His Grace
Many people are skeptical of God’s grace. It’s hard to understand but when we really get the message of the victory of the cross, we can become confident in God’s grace.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15–16
That means we can live free from guilt. Guilt and shame are big killers. Guilt puts us in a place of punishment, where we beat ourselves up. Shame puts us in a state of paralysis, where we’re trapped in the past. Guilt will take away any joy. It will rob you of energy. Shame will drain your confidence. Eventually, guilt and shame will eat away at your faith. You can no longer stand.
Did you ever have an Etch A Sketch toy? I remember mine. It was before computer screens so it was the first experience of writing or drawing something and when it didn’t turn out right you had the option to shake it, have the image disappear and start over. Have you ever thought, wouldn’t it be great if life would work the same way? You could make something go away. But in a funny kind of way it can happen because God is not interested in your past mistakes. His hope is in your future:
“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
God sent the Messiah to help us find Him again and reconnect. Rev. Moon described it this way, “The Messiah is the True Parent of true love, true life and true lineage.” That’s what the Messiah comes to do. Jesus did not have to die to forgive sins. He forgave many of their sins during the course of his ministry but in the end the ultimate sacrifice was asked of him and for our sake he offered himself willingly.
Believing in His Power Working Through Me
When we really understand the victory of the cross, we become confident in God’s power. Notice what happened after the resurrection.
“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” – Acts 1:3
For forty days Jesus continued to appear to the apostles and tell them about the kingdom of God. Forty days! All kinds of people saw him. Many became believers as a result. Architects and historians tell us that Jerusalem had a population of about 35,000 to 50,000 that swelled to 100,000 or 125,000 during the time of festivals. Actual numbers are difficult to discern but five to 10 percent of the population were thought to have become Christians in the first century AD. In fact, there must have been a sizable conversion because by 37 or 38 AD the followers of Jesus were persecuted and most were driven out of the city. They were clearly a threat.
Why did all these people follow a man who had been crucified by the Romans! Why? Because the early Christian movement took to heart Jesus’ words on the cross to become one family under God and to live in resemblance of him. It’s an amazing testament to the power of God’s parental love to embrace people. The Jesus movement transcended the sibling cultural sphere and created a culture based on parent’s love. Through Jesus they gained confidence that God as their Heavenly Father. It’s a game changer. But even more is to come, as we embrace God as our Heavenly Parent!
The right to know
If somebody died for you, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Wouldn’t you want to thank them?
If someone died for your next-door neighbor, your mom or dad, your best friends, the people you work with and go to school with, don’t you think they deserve to know about it? This is why we do what we do in ministry. We want to share with others about God’s love through Christ and create a place where we can learn to live as one 
family under God.
The average person living in this area is sitting home right now, perhaps reading the news on their CNN app or watching the latest mini-series on Netflix, and is totally oblivious to victory that Jesus won on the cross for them or how much God loves them. How could they know? There are all kinds of right to know laws but the greatest “right to know” is surely about how to recover your own humanity and original self – who you were created to be. Easter is a special time when people, no matter their religious or non-religious background think about God, however fleetingly and wonder, could it be true? This week, invite someone to church for Easter. Just maybe, through that simple action, you will experience your own Easter miracle.
To learn more about the Easter Story you can watch “Risen” at your local theater.
