The Power of Life-Giving Love

I am finishing up an essay on the Cross in the NT which will be part of a larger book on the Cross in Christianity. It has been a blessing to write, as I see more deeply the tender love, the ultimate self-sacrifice that our Savior gave on our behalf, because of his great love for us. And while I did not include this thought in the essay, I also know that self-sacrifice language can be used against women, as, for example, wives are told to remain with violent husbands, as their cross to bear.

But the cross has its power because of the resurrection, which defeated sin and death. Crucifixion is not simply death, but excruciating death; it is not just pain, but horrible humiliation and shame. Our Savior took upon himself pain and humiliation, and thus knows the suffering and pain of God’s daughters. He does not ignore or minimize such shame. AND he does not stop there, for Jesus is risen. Death, shame, sin, they are decapitated, dis-empowered, doomed. The cross leads to resurrection power, Holy Spirit power, the power of life-giving love.

Therefore, when Jesus asks his followers to take up their cross and follow him, he empowers them to evangelize, to speak prophetically against injustice, to heal, to teach, to serve. Paul encourages the Romans that present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed (8:18), and he proclaims to the Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven, and our Savior will come and will raise us, giving us a glorified, immortal body to enjoy the new heavens and new earth for all eternity (3:20–21).