Holy Week Day 5 • Friday, April 3

When it comes to understanding our faith, there’s no greater place to look than the cross of Jesus Christ. It is painful to read about, yes. It’s a scene of agony, injustice, and unimaginable suffering. But it’s also holy to behold. The cross is where we see sin exposed, love displayed, and redemption accomplished.

The cross of Jesus is central to Christianity because it’s not just where Jesus suffered—it’s where He saved.

One of the most powerful things we see in this passage from John 19 is that Jesus was not caught in a tragic accident. This wasn’t a plan gone wrong. No, Jesus was fully in control. He was laying down His life willingly. He was choosing obedience to the Father’s will.

Think about that for a moment. The Son of God, the Creator of the universe, chose this path. He was not forced to endure the humiliation, the scourging, or the nails. He chose it. Why? Because He loves us. At the cross, we see love in action. Jesus wasn’t rescuing us from a distance—He entered into our brokenness. He bore the weight of our sin. He carried the punishment we deserved.

This is Jesus. He doesn’t love from afar. He gives Himself fully, willingly, and completely.

When we look at the cross, we see two powerful truths that shape our understanding of God and ourselves.

1. The Cross Tells the Truth About Sin
Sin is not small. It’s not something to be brushed aside or ignored. The cross tells us that sin is serious—it’s deadly. It separates us from God, and it carries a penalty we could never pay.

It’s humbling to confront this reality. The cross reveals the depth of our need for a Savior. It reminds us that we cannot save ourselves. No amount of good deeds, moral living, or religious effort can bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. That’s why Jesus went to the cross.

2. The Cross Tells the Truth About God’s Love
As much as the cross reveals the seriousness of sin, it also reveals the depth of God’s love. Salvation wasn’t cheap—it cost something real. It required the perfect, sinless Son of God to give His life as a ransom. And yet, Jesus was willing to pay that price.

The cross steadies us because it reminds us that we are loved beyond measure. God didn’t leave us in our brokenness. He came to rescue us. And He didn’t do it begrudgingly—He did it willingly.

When Jesus uttered those final words, “It is finished,” He wasn’t just declaring the end of His suffering. 

These three simple words carry an unfathomable weight. They mean that the debt of sin has been paid in full. They mean that there’s nothing left for us to do—nothing we can add, no good work that could improve upon what Jesus has already accomplished.

“It is finished” is a promise. It means that salvation is secure. It’s not fragile. It doesn’t depend on our ability to keep it together. Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to be reconciled to God.

This truth invites us to rest. We don’t have to strive for salvation. We don’t have to live in fear of “not being good enough.” Jesus’ finished work on the cross is enough.

The cross doesn’t just save us—it transforms us. It reshapes how we live, how we worship, and how we relate to God.

1. The Cross Shapes Our Worship
When we reflect on what Jesus endured for us—the physical agony, the emotional torment, the spiritual weight of bearing our sin—it fills our hearts with awe and gratitude. The cross reminds us that God is worthy of all our praise. We worship not because we have to, but because the love we see at the cross compels us to.

2. The Cross Shapes Our Humility
The cross humbles us because it reminds us of our need. It’s a constant reminder that we didn’t earn our salvation. We don’t stand before God because of anything we’ve done. We’re here because of grace. That truth leaves no room for pride. Instead, it invites us to live in humble dependence on Jesus.

3. The Cross Shapes Our Gratitude
Gratitude flows from the cross. When we remember what Jesus has done for us, it changes us. It makes us thankful in all circumstances because we know that, no matter what we face, our salvation is secure. Gratitude becomes the foundation of our lives—it shapes how we pray, how we serve, how we give, and how we love others.

Take a moment to reflect on this question:

For me, this question hits deeply every time I reflect on it. When I remember that Jesus willingly endured the cross for me, I’m humbled by the weight of my sin. But I’m also overwhelmed by the depth of His love. It steadies me to know that I am fully loved, fully forgiven, and fully free—not because of anything I’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for me.

I encourage you to sit with this question today. Let it remind you of the wonder of the cross.

At the cross, we see the very heart of Jesus. We see mercy, holiness, justice, and love meet together. This is who He is. He is love in action. He is the Savior who gives everything to rescue us.

Celebration family, as we reflect on the cross together, let it draw us deeper into worship, humility, and gratitude. The cross changes everything. It changes how we see ourselves, how we see God, and how we live each day.

May the truth of the cross anchor your heart today and every day.

Blessings,
Pastor David