"THE MYSTERY of the cross ex plains all other mysteries." The Great Controversy, p. 652. Locked up in this statement is a profound truth, which, when fully grasped and acted upon, can greatly improve our private and public ministry. There is a mysterious power emanating from the cross that draws men heavenward.
All of us, I'm sure, at some time in our ministry, have been concerned about the limited results in soul winning when compared with the effort expended. How often we have felt inadequate for the encounter with hardened sinners. Looking back on my own ministry, I am sure much more could have been accomplished if I had more fully comprehended that in uplifting the crucified Saviour a mysterious power touches the sinner's heart such as nothing else does. As I face 1975 I am led to conclude that my success in soul winning will be commensurate with my ability to present "the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin ... the great truth around which all other truths cluster."--Evangelism, p. 190.
The Bible is not given primarily as a book of theology. It is a biography. Speaking of the Scriptures, Jesus said: "They are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). In Luke 24:44 we read: "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Christ the Creator is found in the first verse of the Old Testament and again in the first verse of the New Testament. He is the subject matter of the books of Moses, the psalms, the prophets, and the final benediction of Revelation. However, the Bible does not primarily reveal details of a life, but of a death.
The suffering and death of Jesus Christ is the supreme event of the Bible. The apostle Peter declares, "But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled" (Acts 3:18). The death of Jesus Christ was the subject matter of the prophets from the very beginning. Paul likewise says, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3, 4). Rightly understood, the Holy Scriptures come into sharp focus upon the cross. In the words of Dr. T. A. Pierson, "Every sacrifice presented, from the hour of Abel's altar fire down to the last passover of the Passion Week, pointed as with flaming finger to Calvary's cross. Yea, all the centuries moved as in solemn procession to lay their tributes upon Golgotha."---Many Infallible Truths, p. 39.
As the cross is the heart of the Bible, then it would be right to conclude that every doctrine of the Bible gathers its luster from Calvary. The servant of the Lord beautifully expresses this truth in these words: "In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light that streams from the cross of Calvary." --Evangelism, p. 190. Every doctrine is best illuminated by the cross.
Cross-centered preaching is foolishness in the eyes of the world, but those who proclaim it see it by faith as an unexplainable, mysterious drawing power. No other subject that a minister pro claims is more arresting and moving. Notice how Jesus on the road to Emmaus gave meaning to the death that had caused His disciples to be downcast. From the Scriptures, as recorded in Luke 24:26 and 27, He portrayed the prophecies of the Messiah's death. Associated with these words was a mysterious power that touched the dejected disciples. Their own report of how they felt, when the crucified Christ was presented, follows: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32). Here is a graphic illustration of the truth that when the death of Christ is unfolded the hearts of men are mysteriously touched and moved.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the multitude about Christ crucified and raised. In Acts 2:37 he reiterates the truth of the cross, and that mysterious power always associated with the uplifted cross "pricked" the hearts of those hardened sinners, and they exclaimed, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Here is the first example in the Christian church of the unexplainable power that is always associated with the uplifting of the cross of Christ. Here the words of Jesus were dramatically illustrated. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
Likewise, when the death of Christ was unfolded to the Ethiopian (Acts 8:32, 33) his darkened heart was illuminated and he requested baptism. Could it be that we have lost some decisions for baptism because our faith has been more in the argument of scriptural evidence than in the moving power of the cross to bring about decision?
It is only at the cross that man beholds the sinfulness of sin. When the sinner sees that God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32) he is then better able to understand the nature of disobedience. From Steps to Christ, page 31, we read: "The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only in the light of the cross." Sin will never be regarded in its enormity until man stands at Calvary and gazes in awe at the amazing sacrifice required to atone for disobedience. When he stands to view that sacrifice, then an unexplainable, mysterious power that God has promised to give begins to touch his heart.
In our ministry we are to appeal to men to stop transgressing God's holy commandments. Now, while strong arguments have to be brought forth to convince the intellect, we must not fail to present the consequences of transgression as viewed at the cross. "As Christ draws them to look upon His cross, to behold Him whom their sins have pierced, the commandment comes home to the conscience." --Ibid., p. 27.
When we consider the apostasies from our church, would it not be right to conclude that sometimes men have decided in favor of truth because of its over whelming evidence without being converted to Christ? Why is this so? In examining my own ministry, I would agree that the following words put the finger on the heart of the problem:
"Some ministers err in making their sermons wholly argumentative. There are those who listen to the theory of the truth, and are impressed with the evidences brought out; then, if Christ is presented as the Saviour of the world, the seed sown may spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God.
"But often the cross of Calvary is not presented before the people. Some may be listening to the last sermon they will ever hear, and a golden opportunity, lost, is lost forever. If in connection with the theory of the truth, Christ and His redeeming love had been proclaimed, these might have been won to His side." --Gospel Workers, p. 158.
When the cross is omitted from our sermons or Bible studies, they are like Cain's offering. By them men may be intellectually convinced and decided for the Sabbath or other related truths; but if they are not directed to the foot of the cross and their hearts are not pricked we shall have nominal Christians, who, like Saul before the Damascus road, make a great show of religious zeal.
Paul's decision "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2) should be ours in the light of the following instruction: "Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world."--Evangelism, p. 188.
The jeering of the rabble ceased at the cross when Christ died, and an awesome fear gripped the hearts of the multitude. Even the supervising Roman centurion, who had witnessed many such scenes, tremblingly declared: "Truly this was the Son of God." There is an unexplainable power that touches the hearts of men as they behold the Lamb of God lifted up upon Calvary's cross. Observe for your self in your preaching or in your Bible studies how the sneering, disbelieving countenance is changed when you speak of Christ and Him crucified.
When all other evidence failed to bring conviction into the heart of Thomas it was the testimony of the cross that led him to ex claim, "My Lord and my God." Commenting on this, the servant of the Lord says:
"In His treatment of Thomas, Jesus gave a lesson for His followers. His example shows how we should treat those whose faith is weak, and who make their doubts prominent. Jesus did not over whelm Thomas with reproach, nor did He enter into controversy with him. He revealed Himself to the doubting one. Thomas had been most unreasonable in dictating the conditions of his faith, but Jesus, by His generous love and consideration, broke down all the barriers.
"Unbelief is seldom overcome by controversy. It is rather put upon self-defense, and finds new support and excuse. But let Jesus, in His love and mercy, be revealed as the crucified Saviour, and from many once unwilling lips will be heard the acknowledgment of Thomas, 'My Lord and my God.' "--The Desire of Ages, p. 808.
Let us unashamedly, confidently, and believingly lift up the cross before the people, for therein is an unexplainable power that touches the hearts of men more than anything else we may pro claim. It is so because the Lord has pronounced it to be so. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
