THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION

The Cross of History is merely the Crucifixion cross. The Cross is what comes before all things, including Crucifixion itself. The Lamb of God was slained before the creation of any being. For this very reason the One Who has the power to “open the Book and to loose the seals thereof” is the Lion of Judah, the Root of David. But when John, weeping in despair seeks these faces, Revelation 5:4-5—he sees a Lamb “as it had been slain”. We, Christians think that our salvation comes from Jesus’ suffering for us. Suffering does not save, just kills and causes bitterness! Our salvation does not come from Crucifixion itself, but from the Cross! Crucifixion is scenery! The Cross is the eternal sacrifice, to which Crucifixion was just a setting. When Paul says that he only gloried himself in the Cross, he is referring to a historical event. In fact, Paul never wasted his time “describing” the Cross as a dying and agonizing ordeal. For Paul, the Cross was “the mystery which was kept secret for a long time in the past, but that has been made manifest” – with all the implications of the Grace in our behalf. Crucifixion was exposed to the interpretation of human senses: “Truly this man was the Son of God”—confessed the centurion perplexed at the way Jesus died. He also reacted with fear upon observing the Earthquake while darkness suddenly involved that late afternoon. The Cross, however, is infinitely greater than Crucifixion. The Blood that makes us pure from all sins is not a liquid, but an offering of forgiving love, which existed before any other kind of blood was made. The Cross is an eternal decision of God with God. The Eternal Blood is a Decision of Grace! In history, blood was spilled to manifest what, in God, was already done! Jesus did what in Him was already done since eternity! Therefore, Passover celebrates the symbolic lamb that appears since the Genesis, becomes a rite in Exodus, is practised for centuries, and has its Historical Accomplishment in Crucifixioin. The Cross, however, is the Creating Factor behind the entire creation: the Lamb of God was slain prior to the foundation of the world! In this consciousness, the world is crucified to me and I am crucified to the world. That’s why I can walk fearlessly. I shall not seek sinful things that bring suffering, but nor shall I live the phobias and neurosis of sin. It is the certainty of eternal Grace that gives us peace to live on Earth. Without the exodus from the Crucifixion Scene towards the Cross as the eternal good, that guarantees peace with God and life on Earth, no one has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Crucifixion is the external setting! The Cross has to be the interior Reality! Crucifixion reveals human cruelty! The Cross reveals God’s salvation! He who believes is justified and has peace with God. And furthermore, has already passed from death to life! Original Title: A Eterna Cruz de Sempre Translation: Felipe Sabino de Araújo Neto, Cuiabá, MT Proofreading: Wanda de Melo