The Cross that He loved us on.

When you hear, say, or see a cross most people don't truly understand what that means. Imagine yourself walking around in the First Century, in Jerusalem, Rome, all over Asia Major and Minor. Up and down the roads bodies are hanging, some dead, some of the people screaming in agony for days. As you are walking into town, you see these people for (what ever reason they were found guilty of something) just hanging there. Hands are nailed, feet are placed on each other and nailed into an angled board that is nailed into the "cross". The individual has had both legs or knees shattered, so they can not take the weight off their hands or shift weight from their feet.
       The cross and to be crucified was such a terrifying experience the Jews and Gentiles (non Jews) did not use the word "Cross". If they had known somebody that had been crucified or had a family member that had been, out of respect and not bring sure upset. They used terms like, "they rose him up" or, "he was risen at dawn" "he was raised for the crime of....". These terms were used for the way that the person was laid on the wood then once nailed they would "raise" them to an upright position very painfully. The cross was not a good thing at all!!
     When Jesus the Son of God, was beaten, tortured, then crucified you can imagine the emotional pain from those He loved and those that loved Him. No way we could ever imagine the physical pain that one would go through during an experience like that. 
    Jesus did this willingly, sacrificing Himself for our sin and death. While hanging there dying, He prayed for the very ones that had mocked, tortured, and nailed Him to the Cross where He died. He did all of that for you and me, for every bad thing that we have done and every bad thing that we will do. 
      3 days later He was "Risen" again, from death, and was seen walking around for 40 days! Many accounts bare witness to this being true!!  He then "ascended" into Heaven to take His place at the right Hand of God. 
          This Easter when the kids are on spring break and you see the signs of "He has Risen", remember that has a Double Meaning. He was "Risen on the  Cross", then He was "Risen from the Grave"!!
 This Easter and every time you see a Cross understand that only God could take something so horrific and cruel, and turn that into something so Great, Good, and a sign of Hope!  For this is the true symbol for Jesus's love for us and the sacrifice that He made for our Sin! God Bless!!!  Jeremy Greer