It became evident during the discussion time at the Alpha Course last week that there is considerable confusion about the meaning of what lies at the very heart of our faith.

As Nicky Gumbel, the chief speaker, pointed out, the universal symbol of the church is the cross. Although different church groups may depict the cross in different forms, their significance goes back to the Roman instrument of execution on which Jesus was put to death.

As Nicky pointed out in his talk, people who wear a cross as an ornament or piece of jewellery might hesitate to wear an image of a gallows or a guillotine! Quite probably, most people do not realise that the cross is a symbol of death. Yet, for 2000 years the cross has been the primary symbol, the identifying logo of the Christian church.

The reason for this is that the death of Jesus the Christ, of which the Cross reminds us, lies at the very heart of our faith. While Jesus may be honoured for his great teaching, which still influences the ethical thinking of western society today, or the great miracles that he performed, it was his death on the cross that was his most important work. As Jesus told his disciples, the very purpose of his being born was to die.

However, while the fact of Jesus' death on the cross is central to our faith, there is considerable confusion about the meaning of that death. Many who have gone to church all their lives are uncertain about why Jesus died. And if they are uncertain, most of those outside the church have absolutely no idea.

There are a number of ways in which the Bible seeks to explain the meaning of Jesus' death. One, which seems to be quite popular today, is that Jesus' death was an example to us of how we should respond to difficulty and suffering. Peter says in his first letter: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps". (1 Peter 2:21)

However, this is not the only, nor the most important meaning of Jesus' death. Other images in the Bible, not quite as popular in today's climate of thought, take us to the heart of why Jesus died.

The first image is that of the LAW COURT. This comes from the understanding, which goes back to the beginning of the human race, that sin carries legal consequences. As God said to Adam and Eve about the fruit they were forbidden to eat "When you eat of it you will surely die". (Genesis 2:17).

The prophet Ezekiel said: "The soul who sins is the one who will die". (Ezekiel 18:20). The Apostle Paul said: "The wages of sin is death". (Romans 6:23).

There is a strange dichotomy in our society today about attitudes to punishment. One half of society tends to focus on the person who has done wrong and looks for ways to excuse them and reform them. The other half of society gets very upset at lenient sentences handed down by some judges, and cries out for a greater expression of "justice".

While the Bible stresses the importance and value of every individual, it is very clear that all of us are contaminated by sin and this incurs God's wrath. Even the smallest sin sets us over against God, disqualifies us from sharing in his glory, and puts us under the judgement of death. None of us are free from this, no matter how good we may be in comparison to others. God's standard is not 50% or even 75%. He will not even accept anyone who is 90% perfect! As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt 5:48)

However, while all of us, from a human point of view are condemned to death, Jesus, by his death has paid the price for even the worst of us. And so, the gospel message, while it faces squarely the fact of human sin and its consequences, presents the greater truth of God's forgiveness. But this applies only to those willing to receive it. The way to being acceptible to God is not by trying harder, but by receiving by faith the forgiveness that Jesus has already paid for.

Another picture the Bible uses is that of the MARKET PLACE and the ancient practice of buying and selling slaves. Sin, from one perspective is equivalent to a form of slavery. Jesus himself said "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin". (John 8:34). But Jesus has paid the price to redeem us from that slavery. By his death he has bought our freedom. We no longer have to do what sin would demand of us.

A third picture is that of RELATIONSHIP. One of the most terrible effects of sin is that it separates us from our loving heavenly Father. But Jesus, by his death, has reconciled us to Father God. We can have peace with God and be friends again. God, who was once far off has come near to us, and the way is open for us to come boldly into Father's presence.

No wonder we celebrate the fact that Jesus died.

John Davies
12 May 2002