Climbing the Mountain to the Cross

My son kept saying “Mom, I’ve got to take you up the mountain to see the cross! It’s so beautiful up there!” He was up early (5:30 am) the next day to give me the sunrise view! The sun was rising and the timing was perfect. It was well worth the climb to the top where this cross statute sits high above the Sea of Cortez.

Indeed, this would be a “peace zone” moment. I wanted to stay there. I wanted to be still and know my God. It was sacred. A mere cross statute. Certainly not a majestic, towering cross that caused our eyes to look up to remember He Who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our redemption. Just a simple cross in a quiet, mountaintop location. I couldn’t help but be inspired -- not to mention it seemed I was touched by the sun’s rays. My son did a great job capturing the inspiration for me. There was nothing else at the top of this mountain. No signs that identified the artist, the sculptor, the reason for placing it there. But, really, was an explanation necessary? The cross -- whether built as a towering structure or the cross I wear around my neck -- no words are necessary. We know its meaning. We know its symbolism. We know THE ONE Who made the cross famous.

How can one symbol represent so many polar opposites? Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of torture and execution, yet now we proudly exhibit the cross in churches, steeples, and walls and mantels in our homes. The climb to the top of the mountain caused me to re-examine what the Cross means to me -- especially during this season of Easter. The word that fully encapsulates the work of Christ on the Cross, for me, is – SELFLESSNESS.

Someone told me years ago, the symbol of the Cross is simply the cancellation out of the letter “I”. When you put the minus sign over the letter ‘I”, you get the Cross. The crossing of the letter “I” describes the removal of me my and places all of me on all of HIm. Jesus going to the Cross was the ultimate act of selflessness.

His thoughts were only of us and for us. Even to those who were violent and cruel towards Him, He called out to the Father to forgive them, because they knew not what they did. There was no “poor me”, “why me” moments with Him. The Cross meant death for Him but He cared more that the Cross would mean life for us.

Most of all, the cross is LOVE. Christ died for us. The cross was His love. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8).

I pray the cross of Christ becomes more meaningful to you than ever before. After all, if you were the only one He died for, you were worth it!