Followers of Christ see His crucifixion as the greatest wrong in all of history. Yet they decorate church buildings with the cross, wear it as jewelry, and sing about it. Why would anyone cherish such a terrible symbol of suffering and shame?

In ancient times many criminals and rebels died by crucifixion. It's said that in the unrest after the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, Roman soldiers lined a road in Galilee with 2,000 crosses, each bearing the body of an insurrectionist. Their purpose was to strike terror into the heart of anyone who even contemplated rebellion against Rome.

Jesus' death, however, was unlike any of these. Yes, He endured the same physical agony, but He underwent such a terrible sense of abandonment that He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:34). As the Son of God, He was experiencing the righteous wrath of His Father against the sin of all mankind. In dying, He fully paid the penalty for our sin and broke the power of death. To vindicate Christ's work on the cross, God raised Him up from the grave (Acts 2:24; Romans 1:4).

History's greatest wrong secured our pardon from sin. And His resurrection assures our ultimate victory over death. That's why we cherish the cross!  —Herb Vander Lugt  — Herbert Vander Lugt