Irresistible Invitation by Maxie Dunham - Day 9

Irresistible Invitation

Day 9: Why We Still Preach the Cross

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

God bless Maxie Dunham for leading us to a look more closely at the cross which we say we are willing to pick up and carry.

In the devotion for Day 9, Maxie writes about a United Methodist Church in Dallas that erected a huge, crude wooden cross in front of the church for Lent. Most people viewed it as an eyesore, particularly one woman who called and complained: “Can’t you do something with that dreadful cross?” The church is across the street from the Dallas Museum of Art, and it is disquieting, I’m sure, to go to see lovely art in a museum and to be confronted with the ugliness of a crude wooden cross on the way.

“Can’t you do something about that dreadful cross?” Interesting question. Maxie asks us: “What can – and what will – we do about that ‘dreadful’ cross?”

It is currently rather en vogue to wear a cross as a piece of jewelry. I see it in many costume jewelry counters – as though a cross could somehow be costume jewelry. But whenever we get closest to understanding what the cross means, we seem to be at a loss for words to talk about it. As Maxie said, “We grasp for meaning, we hope for clarity, but like that Dallas church, we find ourselves confronted with the question: can’t we do something with that dreadful cross?”

Maxie challenges us deeply here. We can, of course, just walk away from the discomfort. There are, after all, many distractions and many important things to do for the kingdom. But Maxie says he doesn’t think it’s okay to just walk away from the cross, leaving it behind to quiet our discomforts. “And the reason is found in the words Jesus himself uttered while nailed there: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).” Jesus’ last words are there confronting us with the sins in our own lives. “Sin is the reason Jesus was there, and sin is the issue he was addressing.”

Father, forgive them.

Imagine the Scene

Jesus with a crown of thorns and a purple robe, being mocked by soldiers, taunted with their words, “Hale, King of the Jews.” He had to walk through the narrow streets, people rubbernecking as we do, watching this cruelty with fascination. And he is led to Calvary, and there crucified.

Here it is – here it truly is. Evil and good doing battle. “The holiness of God and the sinfulness of humankind were locked in a struggle. Two robbers hung on either side of Jesus, so even in death, he was set amidst human need and sin in its most desperate expression.”

The crowd continues to mock him, making false statements of faith, rudely taunting God to come down from the cross. How can this be so? Yet, what love. “Rev. William Booth, General of the Salvation Army, said long ago, ‘It is because Jesus did not come down from the cross that we believe in him.’”

Still more, Maxie challenges us. “We must not position the cross of Christ back in the first century, nor see it as an isolated event on that skull-shaped hill. We must see it right among us, present now. The black sky brooding over Golgotha is arched above us, too. The tempest and the earthquake that terrified Jerusalem terrifies us also as we envision the cross of Christ, not as something far away, but as present now.”

We must come to understand that while Christ died many years ago, still he died for us. That Jesus would die was an absolute necessity, Maxie tells us. “Jesus was the incarnate love of God and had come to reveal the heart of God to us. Had he refused the cross, the love of God would have been limited.”

“I Feel So Ashamed”

Maxie confesses how easy it is to lose our heart as we work out of our Christian faith. He talks about the feelings of doubt that can come over us as we come across the issues that recycle through history. And sometimes, even stalwart Christians can attest to nothing more than the words “He lives” – not even able to quite say what that means. But, those words are enough.

That cross, that dreadful cross, is a reminder of the beauty of God’s love for you and for me. It is a reminder that Jesus died for us, yet still lives – and that is what our Christian faith is shaped around. The cross is the symbol for foolish, extravagant love. Jesus’ words, “Father forgive them” must confront us with our own sin – so that we may understand that it is also about much more. Jesus is God’s personal witness on earth. We must preach the cross “because we want everyone to know that there is more love in God than sin in us. It is the very picture of justification by grace through faith.”

Not Guilty

Maxie tells a story about going to court with a young man to offer his personal and pastoral support. It was a trial before a judge and not a jury. At the end, the judge called the young man to stand before her and she began to lecture to him. Her words sounded very convicting to Maxie, and he was sure the young man was going to end up in court. Maxie says: “We were all surprised when the judge came to her conclusion: ‘This court finds you not guilty.’ I sighed deeply as I saw a look of tremendous release come over the young man’s face. But then came the challenging word from the judge: ‘Young man, because the court finds you not guilty does not mean that you are innocent.’”

While there was not enough evidence to convict the young man, he was not innocent.

“That’s a hint, however faint, of the meaning of justification by grace through faith. We are all guilty.” But God has given us Jesus Christ – and through him we are made right with God. And through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified. It’s all a matter of grace – God’s grace – God’s gift of love and acceptance of us.

The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love. “It is a vivid picture of God’s nature. It became real to me in a poster that moved me to tears. The words on the poster were these: ‘Do you want to know how much God loves you?’ Jesus answered, ‘This much!’ The picture was Jesus, his arms outstretched and nailed to a cross. So, Jesus spreads out his arms on the cross and says to each one of us, “This is how much I love you.”

The Heart of the Matter

- Think of a time in your life when you were aware of being guilty of something. How did you deal with your feelings in those circumstances?

- Have you ever received the gift of forgiveness? Describe your experience.

- Are you holding on to feelings of guilt and sin in your relationship with God? If so, have you considered asking God to release you from that burden so you might fully embrace the extravagant love Jesus embodied on the cross?