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Written by James S. Stewart (1783-1858), a Baptist minister and county judge.

We take a Red Cross, and with it symbolize the ministry of healing. Our poets and hymn-writers sing to us of “the wonderous cross,” “the blessed cross.” But all this ought not to hide from us the fact that originally the cross was a thing unspeakable, shameful, and degrading. “Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree,” said Paul, quoting Deuteronomy. That was how Jewish feeling expressed it; and Roman sentiment the same. “This cruelest, most hideous of punishments,” said Cicero, using words in which you can almost hear the shudder—“crudelissimum taeterrimumque supplicum.” “Never may it,” he said elsewhere, “come near the bodies of Roman citizens, never near their thoughts or eyes or ears!” Devised in the first instance in semi-barbaric Oriental lands, death by crucifixion was reserved by the Romans for slave and for criminals of the most abandoned kind. It was a fate of utter ignominy…That the Messiah should die such a death was utterly beyond belief. Yet so it was. Everything which Christ ever touched – the cross included – he adorned and transfigured and haloed with splendor and beauty; but let us never forget out of what appalling depths He has set the cross on high.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [Hebrews 12:2]

Written by Pete Byma, a contemporary pastor.

As this season of Lent continues, we come closer and closer to the dangerous cross. We realize that Jesus Christ paid an enormous price for our salvation. And he did so willingly as he resolutely set out for Jerusalem. As the Anointed One (Messiah), Jesus was obedient to God the Father. As our chief Prophet, Jesus revealed to us the will of God concerning our salvation. As our only High Priest, the one sacrifice of his body paid the penalty for our sins. And today as our eternal King, he governs us through his Word and Spirit, always defending and preserving us for work in his kingdom. God calls us to join in this holy work as prophets, priests, and rulers serving the King. We too are anointed and share in this grand work of redeeming love. As we worship, pray, share his good news, and bring blessing to others, we grow nearer to God and help to bring others into his presence. The words of Jesus in today’s verse remind us that if we shy away from the things of God’s kingdom, we will miss out on the full life God intends for us. If we accept and embrace our Spirit-led and true identity, we will experience everlasting life in Jesus Christ. As we proceed toward becoming more like Christ, we may lose our life as we now know it, but we will gain so much more—eternity with him.

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. [Luke 17:33]

Written by Trần Nữ Vương Linh from the Village Church

There have been many people who passed through my life – friends, teachers, students, colleagues. Some appeared briefly and faded. Some once felt close but are now only memories. Life moves this way, reminding us how temporary everything can be. And yet, there is one presence that changed my understanding of permanence: my child. Watching him laugh while playing with small toys, I realize that love is not something we own – it is something entrusted to us. His existence did not erase life’s uncertainties, but it filled the quiet spaces of my heart with a peace I had never known. Scripture says: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17) A child is not just a gift. A child is a living reminder that hope still enters the world every day. Even when the future is unknown, the simple grace of waking up and sleeping beside someone we love is already a miracle. Lord, teach us to recognize the sacredness hidden in ordinary moments. Help us cherish the lives entrusted to us, and let our love become a shelter where others feel safe, seen, and held.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created. [James 1:17-18]

Written by John Reynell Wreford (1800-1891), an English minister, songwriter, r and author.

When my love to Christ grows weak,
When for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to thee,
Garden of Gethsemane.

 When my love for man grows weak,
When for stronger faith I seek,
Hill of Calvary, I go
To the scenes of fear and woe.

Then to life I turn again,
Learning all the worth of pain,
Learning all the might that lies
In a full self-sacrifice.

 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  [Mark 9:24]

Written by Joel Stucki, a contemporary writer.

It is more pleasant to focus on the result of Jesus’ death than the actual event, or to focus on the resurrection instead of the crucifixion (disclaimer: I am not downplaying the resurrection here; please bear with me!). It may be nice to imagine a world without the Fall of Man. But if we do not engage with pain as pain, if we deny or trivialize the evil that Jesus overcame, then we dilute the gospel message itself. If we speak only of the apparent defeat, then we speak as those who have no hope. But if we speak only of the victory of the resurrection, we deny the evil, the pain, and the suffering of Jesus and of those who followed him. That is sentimentality at its worst. Consider a time of suffering in your own life. Were you ever truly lifted from it by some pithy axiom like “every cloud has a silver lining,” or “when God closes a door, he opens a window?” Probably not. More likely you were helped by someone who was willing to enter your pain and walk through it with you, rather than someone trying to cheer you up right away. We must be willing to absorb the horror of the depths to which the love of God will descend in order to redeem. We need to live in the moment of the scriptural narrative instead of constantly indulging our desire to “fast-forward to the good stuff.” Why? Because that’s life. That’s reality. That is the world that Jesus Christ came to save. If we do not engage with and understand our need for him, and the world’s need, then how can we properly value what he offers?

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. [Hebrews 2:10]

Written by Wade Johnston, a contemporary professor of history and theology and writer.

God has set us free in love to love. Therese of Lisieux is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. She was called the Little Flower…She had a great saying: “Do small things with great love.” Christ has done great things with great love. His body on a cross and not in a tomb has worked our salvation and demonstrated his love for all who walk this earth. All that is left is small things now. Do small things with great love. Love because you were loved first. Love with great love because you are greatly loved. See Christ in your neighbor because you have seen Christ on your cross. You need not search far and wide for people to love. Love those God has put in front of you. Love in your callings. Love Christ who has loved you, and loves through you.

We love because he first loved us. [1 John 4:19]

Written by Jason Zuidema, a contemporary ministry director and David Rozeboom, a contemporary chaplain.

In the Old Testament, it was not unusual for people to be terrified and in awe of God’s presence. For example, in Exodus 20, when the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’” The people were afraid because they knew they were sinful and that God is holy and awesome, with power beyond imagining. The book of Hebrews helps to explain the significance of Jesus’ death for our sake. When Jesus died on the cross, he experienced the same separation from God that so terrified Israel. By paying for our sins and reconciling us to God, Jesus cut through that darkness forever. The terror of being in God’s presence is no longer there because we can approach God through Christ, the one he loves and accepts. Hebrews urges us to approach God at any time. Through Jesus, God made himself accessible to all people, regardless of their situations or circum­stances. God loves us all, and he is ready to give grace to anyone who comes to faith through his Son.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. [Hebrews 12:18-22]

Written by Arlene Stamper from the Village Church.

I’ve thought many times that it took a major incident in my life to turn my life over to Jesus. But when I think back I also think God was dropping hints all along my way. When I was very young and my mother was ill, I leaned on Jesus in prayer asking over and over for her healing. My family were not church goers but still I prayed.  I wanted to believe but when my mom died, my belief died too. I married and my dear mother-in-law would share her faith with me.  I also unknowingly began to surround myself with friends who had deep faith. I was in awe of them, wanting to believe like they did but couldn’t.  Wouldn’t. But then I faced a life-threatening medical condition. My friend gave me a prayer quilt that her church members had said prayers over. For me. My friends put me on their church prayer lists and I was deeply touched by people who didn’t know me but would pray for my healing. Jesus all through my life kept sending me messages that he was there for me but yet I doubted.  I was like Doubting Thomas.  Such a stubborn person I, am!  But then, I started to pray and ask God to give me faith. Please give me faith.  And one day I was invited to go to The Village Church and trembling, I went.  And was welcomed by a wonderful church family but most importantly, welcomed by Jesus on the Cross. He had given me faith. Thank you, Lord!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  [Ephesians 2:8-9]

Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American evangelist.

What glory is there in the cross? It was an instrument of torture and shame. Why did Paul glory in it? He gloried in it because the most selfless act ever performed by men or angels took place upon it. He saw-emanating from that rough, unartistic beam upon which the Son of God had been crucified—the radiant hope of the world, the end of the believer’s bondage to sin, and the love of God shed abroad in the hearts of men. A lone man dying on a cross did more to restore man’s lost harmony with God, his fellowman, and himself, than the combined genius and power of earth’s mighty. With my finite limitations, I cannot fully comprehend the mystery of Christ’s atonement. I only know that all who come to the cross in simple, trusting faith lose all their guilty stains and find peace with God.

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. [Galatians 6:14]

Written by Doreen May from the Village Church

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. [Psalm 100:1-2]