The cross as turning point.

Good morning. Friday, Jan 30, 2009. Jesus died at the cross. This is well-known today. He was the strange Jewish guy who founded Christianity, who taught about love and truth and heaven. He was said to be the Messiah by his followers, a special human, sent by God, to bring people back to God. We can remain in a distant position towards Christianity. We can even oppose it for whatever reason - perhaps since it was misused by too many people in history. But we can also start to understand Jesus, listen to his words and explanations and start to understand the cross.

At the cross Jesus died for the sin of the world. That is the key Christian message. He died because of the separation of mankind from God. He died to heal, to bridge the gap. Understanding the cross means to start to understand the separation of humans from God. This has to do with God as well. We need to get to know God - which is a process which will bring us to the other side.

The cross has consequences on all level of our life. If Jesus died for me - to bridge my personal gap - then my life will be changed. Someone has given his life for my life. I do not need to give it again. The apostle Paul says: you are free now for God. He has payed to get your life free. You are no slave any more! Not the slave of the circumstances. Not the slave of your company. Not the slave of your country or institution. But you are a slave of Jesus and his love. You have been bought by him to live in his freedom of love, truth and service for the others … this leads us into deep and far reaching resoning about what and how we carry out our life on a daily basis! [R.P., Reading, UK]

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