CHRISTMAS: THE VIEW FROM THE CROSS
The young boy glared at me as he slowly walked across the street and in front of the “go-ye-mobile” truck I use to carry and prominently display a 10-foot by 5-foot, 60-pound cross everywhere I go and for all to see. I didn’t understand his apparent agitation. I had stopped for him to cross over to the other side of the road and was driving under the residential speed limit.
As the young boy reached the other side of the street, he pointed a menacing finger at me and shouted out loud enough for all his friends to hear, “Hey mister! Did you steal that cross?!”
CHRIST’S CROSS IS GOD’S SPIRITUAL MAGNET
No, I didn’t steal that cross! I made it. And as I cross walk the streets of Bakersfield (a California valley city Jeanette and I have lived in for almost 30 years)—or the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and some 140 other California cities so far, as well as bringing that large cross to 39 states and state capitals and other major cities of America so far—the response to the cross of Jesus Christ is always the same no matter what city or state I bring it to. No matter whether the response is positive or negative ( and by far, the response is overwhelmingly positive), it is always the great attractor! For some reason, the large cross demands attention, demands attraction, demands notice, demands observation—and demands response. This greatest symbol of Christianity also demands thought, reflection, consideration, devotion and awe. There is simply something uniquely special about the cross of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps it’s because the Babe who was born in a wooden manger on Christmas day is truly whom the Bible and God’s holy prophets of old said He was—Isaiah 9:6’s “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace—the great God and Savior Jesus Christ! And perhaps that’s the reason why the cross acts like a powerful spiritual magnet everywhere I walk, drawing and attracting men, women and children to the One who’s arms are open wide and hands outstretched with palms extended for all to see the “prints” of peace.
Jesus’ promise to everyone is, “If I am lifted up [on that cross] from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Me” (John 12:34, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry »