Lenten Devotionals from our DS's wife Robbie Craker

Do I need to have a deep theological understanding of the CROSS? Does it matter if I have all the “theories” just right? Must the metaphors I use to explain the Cross work all the way to the end? Or is it good enough to say,

“When I look at the Cross, I’m like the blind man healed by Jesus, who said, ‘I can’t tell you who He is, but this one thing I know: once I was blind, but now I can see.’”

I don’t understand everything about the atonement. Is the atonement for me or for God? I’ve been thinking about this a lot this week. Did the cross happen to satisfy God or to satisfy me? Did God need the cross or do I need the cross?

“When I look at the Cross, I’m like the blind man healed by Jesus, who said, ‘I can’t tell you who He is, but this one thing I know: once I was blind, but now I can see.’”

So I cling to the Cross. In my simplemindedness it’s all I know to do. I don’t want to get in the way of what Christ wants to do through the Cross so I cling to the Cross. I won’t be embarrassed by the Cross – I’ll cling to the Cross.

Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, "The nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make the Son of Man suffer terribly. He will be rejected and killed, but three days later he will rise to life." Then Jesus explained clearly what he meant.

Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples, he corrected Peter. He said to him, "Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God."

Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said:

If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What could you give to get back your soul?

Don't be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. –Mark 8:31-38 (CEV)

Father – today I cling to the Cross. Amen