The theme for Easter at my church every year is this: The cross is for everyone. It sounds so
simple yet I have found myself wrestling with this word each year. To me, Jesus’ death and
resurrection is very personal because I have experienced being freed from sin, being healed from
hurt and being made whole; mostly not even because of my own actions but because of
circumstances and other people. Simply put, the cross being for me makes sense. It gets a little
complicated when I start to think about the same cross that is for me being the same cross for all
the people that have hurt me, those that do bad things in this world and just everyone?
It’s a sobering truth that all sin is equal in the eyes of God and his grace applies to all of us. God
is so fascinating because humanly speaking? It doesn’t make sense. I recently came across
someone who hurt me really badly in the past online. He has a new car and lives in a better
house. He even put on some weight; which is funny to me because why does it seem like he is
getting for all the hurt caused? I told my friend about this and she told me, “Josie, God won’t
throw away one of his children because they hurt you, you’re not that special.” Definitely an
ouch moment lol.
I think the most bittersweet characteristic God has is that he is constant. He is the same
yesterday, today and forever. The good news is that he is merciful and forgiving and a good
Father to you and I. The not so good news however (because let’s be honest, it’s not great news),
is that he is still merciful and forgiving and a good Father to all those that have hurt you too,
Forever. I have learnt to appreciate this aspect of God because I too have hurt people yet here we
are.
In Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus says; How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you
Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on
the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous
people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Yes I go to church
and I am saved but I also gossip and lie sometimes. How hypocritical of me to think that I am
better than anyone? How absolutely prideful of me to assume I am worthy of God’s grace?
Romans 8:1- There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; is one of
my favourite verses for many reasons, firstly because it goes against any shame or guilt from sin
and speaks freedom. Secondly because it is a reminder that our Father is a God of redemption
and forgiveness. So if our Father is forgiving then who are we to decide on his behalf who the
cross is for and who does not deserve it?
Maybe you’re not like me and your judgement is mostly toward yourself. Romans 8:1 still rings
true. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Any guilt or shame to
come to God after sin is a lie that you should not believe. Jesus’ resurrection today means that
every hold sin had over the children of God is now lost. Jesus’ resurrection today also means that
our Fathers goal is for all of us to be close to him and not for us to be perfect because we can
never be. We can only live a life of purpose according to God’s plan for us through his grace.
The cross is for everyone is a humbling yet profound declaration. S/O to Jesus for the gift of his
death and his resurrection!
