The Power of the Cross

Duane Vander Klok

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

Psalm 24:7-10

So, what changed when Jesus died on the cross?

Many people blame the Jews, the Romans, or maybe Judas for Jesus’s death on the cross. But the truth is that Jesus had to die on the cross because of you and me. Our sins nailed Him to that cross. There was an old covenant, but praise God that we are now under the new covenant – our sins have been paid for and we can live forever with Him! Romans 10:4 says, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Jesus is the end of the old covenant, and because He represents perfect theology, He is a perfect example for us to follow in the new covenant.

It can be difficult to fully grasp the meaning of Jesus’s death on the cross. He died for our sins, but He also took back the authority and dominion over the earth from the devil. When He died, He descended into Hades and took back what the devil stole in the Garden. Genesis 3:15 says,
“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

Jesus was victorious over the devil, and He gave the authority back to us. And He did not die only to get you into heaven – He died to get heaven into you! Go and share the Good News of Jesus!