The Power of Meditating on the Cross
This Easter season (I do not like calling it Easter, so we’ll call it Resurrection) we are preaching a series at CCC called “Four Accomplishments of the Atonement”. Each Sunday we are considering one of the many things that Christ accomplished when he died on the cross and subsequently rose from the dead. Yesterday we saw that Christ overcame Satan. Next Sunday we’ll think on how Christ heals us from our sin-sickness. This series, however, is of little use to the listener if she does not meditate on these great truths intentionally throughout the week.
Puritan writers of the 17th century believed that meditation was a vital tool for Christian strength. Thomas White wrote in 1672, “It is better to hear one Sermon only and meditate on that, than to hear two Sermons and meditate on neither.” I would highly recommend Joel Beeke’s paper for more instructions on how to meditate like the Puritans. Meditating on the cross was the impetus for the modern missionary movement when, in 1727, Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf stood in front of a painting of the crucified Christ in Dusseldorf, Germany and was overcome with His sacrifice.
In fact, I have never met a mature and strong Christian who doesn’t intentionally meditate on God’s Word, on Christ, and the work of Christ for him. To meditate is to apply the truths of Scripture to our imagination, which begins the lifelong process of mental healing from the ravages of sin. To meditate is to fight back against the Devil in his primary battle ground: our thoughts.
This resurrection season I would like to encourage meditation on the cross and resurrection. In order to encourage that I printed a sticker that we can put in an obvious place to cause ourselves to remember and think on the accomplishments of the atonement. I offered a free book on “Fifty Reasons Why Christ Came to Die” to add more cross-centered material for your thoughts. We publish our sermons on all podcast platforms. All these things can help you meditate on the work of Christ for you.
Here are a few benefits of meditating intentionally on the atoning work of Christ from Monday to Saturday:
1. It will drive away worry and fear. When your mind is idle it is often flooded with worry about the future. But when Christ’s victory of our final end, death, is rolled over and over in our minds the clouds of worry will dissipate as his sun light floods in.
2. It will save us from self-centered depression. The mind that dwells on self will surely be depressed. But the mind that thinks on all that He did for us will have much reason to feel loved and cared for. The joy that comes by focusing on the work of Christ will surely surprise you, to steal a thought from CS Lewis.
3. It will motivate unnatural forgiveness. It is natural for us humans to hold grudges. But how could anyone hold a grudge against a brother having long and deep meditated on the bloodied body of Christ where he bore all our sins? The Christian who meditates on the unreasonable cross will be unreasonably lavish in his forgiveness of his brother or sister.
4. It will create a distaste for sin. An idle mind truly is the Devil’s workshop where he plies us with all the delicacies of his wares; that fruit that appears sweet to the eyes yet creates violent vomiting in the soul. But to meditate on Christ on the cross will give us a true picture of the horror of our sin and make that sin that much more detestable to us.
5. It will motivate a love for our brothers and sisters who have been transformed by the same person of Christ and his work. There is a heart-level connection between fellow Christians that transcends language and culture. It is that connection created by our shared transformation by Christ.
6. It will illustrate for us just how light our momentary affliction on this earth really is. Are you having a difficult time? Is your service to the Lord Jesus weighing you down and causing you to want to quit? How does your affliction compare to what He has gone through for you? Were it put on a scale opposite his cross I imagine the blood you have shed for Him would not amount to even a full drop.
Leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday I would like to hear from you.
How are you practicing meditation on the cross and resurrection? In the morning? At night? Using a book? Prayer? With your family?
and
What practical benefits are you finding in that meditation?