Meant for You

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures . . . (1 Corinthians 15:3).

In his book Letters to a Young Evangelical, Tony Campolo tells the story of being in a communion service with his parents when he was very young. Seated in the pew in front of them was a woman visibly distressed. Her quiet sobbing, the shaking of her shoulders, continued through the service, right up until the time communion was served.

The minister had just finished preaching on the text from 1 Corinthians 11:27. “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” As the elements were passed to this woman she waved them away and lowered her head under the weight of whatever churning inside of her that morning.

Campolo recalls that is was at this very moment that his father leaned forward and in his choppy Sicilian English spoke over her shoulder: ”Take it girl! It was meant for you . . . do you hear me?”[1]

The cross was where it happened. It was on the cross that Christ’s body was broken and his blood shed. And that violent drawn-out death was for you. This is an amazing claim. The cross is not merely something that we as Christians affirm historically. The cross is an event that we enter into personally. Somehow, in ways beyond our understanding, the death of Jesus bears directly on you and me. It was meant for us. Our tradition and scripture make this tight assertion: Jesus died for our sins. You’re included. It was meant for you.

In the weeks ahead as we approach Easter we’ll be reflecting on the cross. Keying to the sermon series that will anchor weekly worship at PPC, we’ll daily explore why the cross mattered.

The content of these daily reflections will be largely gleaned from the works of others. So many gifted thinkers, writers and teachers have meditated on and wrestled with the meaning of the cross. On most days you’ll be given a brief excerpt along with a comment or question to help you think about what you’ve read.

And here’s an invitation: some of you may have read something about the cross that has been meaningful to you. If you know of compelling quote that you’d like to share during the course of this series, please share it in the comments section of this blog or send it to cross@peachtreepres.org. Please be sure to include your source since some of your submissions may be used in this devotional series.

These days ahead may be an Emmaus Road (Luke 24). The living Christ meets you every morning and walks with you – and along the way Jesus may help you understand more about why he suffered and died. By the time we reach Easter you’ll know it’s true: “It was meant for you.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, it isn’t hard for us to affirm that you died on the cross. The hard part is in understanding that you did so for us; that your death truly matters and makes a difference for people today. Guide our thinking and praying in the days ahead that we might better understand the cross. Empower us by your Spirit to live each day in gratitude for what you did on our behalf. Amen.

[1] As cited in the Winter 2008 issue of Leadership Journal, page 60.