"What The Cross Of Jesus Shows Me." Part 1

In the next few Blog entries, I will be sharing with you about the cross of Jesus. Most people reading this article are aware of Jesus dying on the cross and the severity of Jesus’ suffering.

Many are knowledgeable about the historical facts, but some fail to perceive the spiritual significance of the crucifixion of Jesus. I believe that we sometimes miss part or all of the Divine message that God was revealing to us through the cross of Jesus.

What does it all mean? I certainly can’t answer that question completely, but I will share with you 3 things that the cross of Jesus shows me about myself.

What does the cross of Jesus show me?

Let me begin with an illustration. I did something the other day that a part of me wishes I had not done. I was alone in the house. I thought I could do something that couldn’t hurt anyone. What did I do?

I weighed myself on the bathroom scale. A part of me deeply regrets doing that, even though it was helpful. That scale showed me that things were far worse regarding my physical condition than I realized. The scale was a means of revelation about my physical condition.

The suffering and death of Jesus does the same thing regarding my spiritual and moral condition.


The first thing that the cross of Jesus shows me that I am a no good sinner.

There is often an immediate and strong reaction and rejection of such a negative message.

People often respond like this: “You are a good person.” “Look how special you are.” “Don’t say such negative things about yourself.”

My reply? “If I’m such a good person why did Jesus suffer so much and die so terribly on that cross?”

He was not there for any wrongs that he had done. He wasn't there because of some unjust trial. He was there because of me.

Romans 5:6. Christ died for the ungodly.

My sin and my wrongs were the reason that Jesus went to the cross. He died on the cross because I am not good, not godly! Many Scriptures emphasize that Jesus died because we are not good.
1 Peter 2:24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree…

1 Corinthians 15:3. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture…,

Romans 4:25. He was delivered over to death for our sins…

Isaiah 53:4-5. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by god, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus died for ungodly people. It seems clear that I must not be a good person. I may not like this bit of truth, but it is truth nonetheless.

The cross of Jesus shows me that I am a no good sinner.

This statement may seem harsh to modern ears but it is consistent with the self-understanding that the early Christians had of themselves and all human beings.


Romans 7:18 (NIV). I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

Romans 7:18 (NLT). I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned.

I may do some “good things” as people define “good” but how does God see it? The Bible says that whatever good that I may do is as filthy rags in God’s eyes. Isaiah 64:7.


If I am not a good person, then how can I ever be accepted by God? How can I ever go to Heaven? How can a just God welcome me when I am “rotten through and through?” Is there anything that I can do to repair my relationship with God?

I will answer these questions in my next Blog entry when I share on the second thing that the cross of Jesus shows me.