Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17 (2019)
Life is surrounded by symbols, and these symbols point to a deeper aspect of life which is called mystery.
In the case of religious symbols, they point to the truth of life which is encompassed in mystery.
For example, the lotus flower is the religious symbol of Buddhism, and it expressed the teaching that mankind can rise about the worldly desires, just as the lotus flower rises above the sludge.
For us Christians, the profound symbol of our faith is the cross.
Yet, the meaning of the cross may not be that explicit because it points to a deep mystery of life and love.
At first sight, the cross is an instrument of death and suffering.
It can be a stumbling block because we want to avoid suffering.
But with Jesus nailed to the cross, what the cross was meant to do is no longer as important as what God meant it to do.
In the cross, we see the love of God for humanity, that God came into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world.
In the cross, we see God offering His love and His life for us.
In the cross, we see healing and the forgiveness of sins.
In the cross, we see the invitation to discipleship, as well as the cost of discipleship.
In the cross, is not just the symbol of Christianity, but the reality of Christianity.
When we accept the cross, then we will enter into the mystery of life and love.