The Cross and the Throne

 

My church family at Bridgeman Downs Baptist Church meets in a large auditorium where, suspended from the ceiling, is an illuminated cross. I am very grateful to the technician who placed it so, as the entire congregation is always at the foot of the cross. Many churches throughout the world have a cross positioned front and central, to remind us all that it was only through the suffering and death of Christ on the cross that we are able to fully approach God.

Many of us wear a cross to symbolise that we belong to Jesus Christ, that we are Christians. As Easter approaches we meditate on the meaning of the cross. Jesus knew that He would face terrible torture and an agonizing death. Not only did He suffer the physical pain, but also the agonising experience of separation from His Heavenly Father God, the betrayal and abandonment of some of His closest earthly friends, and the unimaginable weight of knowing all the sins and pain of the world as He hung on that cross. We cannot ever understand what Jesus experienced.

 

When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”  Matthew 27: 50-54

God was glorified through Jesus Christ. Mankind was saved from the curse of sin and death. Satan was forever defeated. The veil separating a holy God from sinful mankind was torn. Jesus was then and is now our Redeemer.

Jesus is no longer on the cross. His body was placed in a tomb which was found to be empty three days later. He appeared in His resurrected body to His disciples and many others. He ascended to Heaven, sending His Holy Spirit to earth to be with His people.

No longer on the cross, but seated on the throne of Heaven, at the right hand of God,  King of all kings, Lord of all lords. The Bible gives us beautiful pictures:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling out to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts;

all the earth is full of His glory.”   Isaiah 6:1-3

 

And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62

 

At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.  The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.  Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.  And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.  The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying:

“Holy, Holy, Holy,

is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:2-8

 

As Easter approaches we think with sadness of the suffering of Jesus. We think with deep appreciation for that He taught us, all that He did to heal and save the suffering and lost. We celebrate with great joy on Easter Sunday that death could not hold Him, that He rose and reigns, seated in Heaven on the throne, at the right hand of God.