by Charlie Hatchko
St. Paul gives evidence of the Power of the Cross!
1 Cor. 1:18! For the Word of the Cross is folly and absurdity to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God for salvation!
The Cross is our victory in Jesus Christ! The Cross of Christ is a Divine mystery that the intellect cannot fully understand.
Through the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, comes victory over sin and death! Through the power of the cross mankind was redeemed, and the cross is truly our source of life. The Cross is truly the paradise of the Church, the tree of incorruption, that has procured for us everlasting glory through Christ the Lord! The great paradox of the cross is that through Christ's passion, suffering and death of humiliation, the cross is our redemption and source of eternal life. In the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Colossians regarding the pre-eminence and supremacy of Christ, Scripture shows the power of the blood shed on the cross.
Col. 1:15-20 shows the magnificent power of the cross. Through the power of the cross, reconciliation of God through Christ is accomplished. St Paul states, He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of the cross.
There is a great theological symbolism of the cross. The cross calls us to suffer as our Lord Jesus Christ suffered. The believers must deny themselves pick up their cross and follow Christ. Holy Scripture talks about the cross. Matt.10:38-39 Christ exhorts, He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. In Matt. 16:24-26 Jesus tells his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me! For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life. Or what shall a man give in return for his life.
Mark 8:34-36 The Lord Jesus Christ again exhorts, If any man would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life.
Luke 9:23-25 Jesus exhorts, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself.
In Luke 14:26-27 Jesus exhorts, If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Let us never forget that through the triumph of the cross redemption and salvation has come into the world. In Rev. 12:11 Scripture gives evidence that the devil was defeated by "The Blood of the Lamb, and the Testimony of the Word"! The Blood of the Cross of Jesus Christ is mankind's Redemption. Eph. 1:7-1Pet 1:18-19-Rev. 1:5 is the Biblical confirmation and verification that redemption comes through the power of the blood of Christ shed on the cross. The cross truly shows the agape love of Christ for mankind.
The Church in her teachings show Christ on the cross. The Body of Christ shown on the cross signifies the power of the blood. The Church has always shown the image, the corpus of Christ on the cross crucified.
A Pentecostal minister after seeing a large crucifix worn by me, stated, “Take Christ off the cross, he is alive” . I answered the Pentecostal Pastor with Scripture! Pastor, I said, John 15:13 gives evidence of the agape love of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ exhorts! Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The crucifix signifies atonement, redemption, the power of the blood, and the agony and suffering of Christ! In Gal. 3:1 St. Paul states, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” I stated, "Pastor, you foolish Protestant, who has bewitched you, was not Christ shown publicly on the cross!" How can you preach the power of the blood and deny Christ on the cross! Pastor let us look at the Sacred Scriptures.
Scripture and the Catholic Church preach Christ crucified! In 1 Cor. 1:23 St. Paul exhorts, we preach Jesus Christ crucified! In 1 Cor. 2:2 St. Paul exhorts, I have decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. In Gal. 2:20 St. Paul exhorts, I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. In Gal. 6:14 St. Paul states, “may I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The "Cross of Christ" - the Crucifix - should not be a sign of contradiction, but a sign of victory and hope.
In Lk. 2:34-35 In the time for purification in the presentation of Jesus Christ in the temple, let us look at the words of Simeon to the Blessed Virgin Mary. "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising for many in Israel, and for a sign being spoken against… and a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”
The crucifix, Christ on the cross crucified is the magnificent sign of the power of the precious blood! The crucifix should not be a sign spoken against, but a sign of remembrance of the magnificent salvific act on Calvary. Our justification and redemption comes through the power of the precious blood shed on the cross.
Rom. 3:24-25 and Rom. 5:8-9 St. Paul gives affirmation that our justification comes through the "blood of Christ!" As Mary's heart and soul were pierced with horror in seeing Jesus on the cross, the crucifix should convict our heart and soul of sin, and we should never forget the victory and our hope is in Jesus Christ.
Again let me remind all of our victory and hope in Christ Jesus our Lord! Rev. 12:11 The devil was defeated by The Blood of the Lamb, and the Testimony of the Word! In Tit. 2:11-13 St. Paul exhorts, “for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of that great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” In Eph. 2:13-16 St. Paul gives magnificent evidence that we have been brought back near to God through the precious blood of Christ, who is our peace. Reconciled to God through the power of the cross. In Col. 2:13-15 Scripture states “all who were dead in sins and trespasses, were made alive by God in Jesus Christ. He forgave all our sins having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Sacred Scripture calls mankind to share in the sufferings of the Christ. In Col. 1:24 St. Paul exhorts, Now, I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body the Church. Scripture calls man to suffering. Read the following Scriptures in regards to suffering. Matt. 5:11-12-Acts 5:41-Acts 9:16-Rom. 8:17-2 Cor. 4:8-11-James 5:10-1 Peter 2:20-21-1 Peter 5:10! In 1 Peter 2:24 St. Peter exhorts, he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we may die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. In Heb. 12:2 St. Paul exhorts, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Satan was truly defeated by the power of the cross! The crucifix is a great witness and reminder of Christ sacrifice on the cross! In Col. 1:18-20 St. Paul exhorts, “He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross!”
The cross is truly the power of God for the salvation of man. Through the power of the sacred cross, Christ liberated man from the power of sin and death. Through the holy cross, Christ has redeemed the world. Call upon the power of the precious blood"! The power of the Cross!" May God Richly Bless you! Amen! Hallelujah!
Charlie Hatchko
The Catholic Legate
April 29, 2004
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Charles Hatchko is the founder and president of the Catholic lay apostolate, C.A.R.E. - Catholic Apologetics and Renewal Evangelization! C.A.R.E. - is a Catholic lay apostolate with a mission to make Catholics better Catholics, and to bring fallen away Catholics back to the true Church of Jesus Christ. Mr. Hatchko is a member of St. Michael's Church, Scranton Pa. St. Michael's Church is run by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast your anxiety on Jesus! He cares!
Slightly edited from its original publication in the "Lackawanna County News", January, 2000. You gotta read it to believe it, folks! Later published in the Area Bargain Buyer - March, 2001.