I Will Embrace the Cross

 In case you haven’t received an official invitation yet, let me invite you to join us at the First Baptist Church this coming Sunday morning, April 13, at 10:45 as our choir presents the Easter cantata, “I Will Embrace the Cross.” Yes, it’s only Palm Sunday, but the message still sings. So, if you don’t already attend a Christ-centered church that preaches the gospel in all its grand and glorious truth, we’d love for you to be our guest.

We’ve had a good time learning the songs in this musical. The energy of celebration and worship in a few of the numbers has even led some of our altos to raise theirs hands in the air, which is a bold expression of praise for many Baptists.

We are typically hands-in-pocket singers, perhaps daring occasionally to tap fingers on the pew, maybe do some light clapping along or even uttering a sporadic “Amen” if a particular song grips us in a special way. So if you see us raising the roof you’ll know the Spirit’s moving!

You’ll also hear in this cantata some deeper, personally reflective songs that God has used to draw us to worship with grateful and sincere hearts. There is one called “Your Blood Covers It All” which powerfully reminds us that what Jesus did for us on the cross covers “all my sins, all my shame, all my secrets, all my chains.”

How can we think about the suffering Jesus endured for us without being moved to brokenness and repentance? How can we ever question His love for us, His unceasing mercies or overflowing grace? How can we possibly choose the paths of sin when Christ has given us new joy, new peace, new satisfaction and new life?

This is the good news of which we sing. This is the simple, yet life-changing gospel message that we want the world to hear. The apostle Paul says it this way:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for ours sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).

Paul never got over what Jesus did for him. Paul knew that he was unworthy to be called an apostle. He was a self-described “chief of sinners.” He was a blasphemer, persecutor and violent opponent of the church. But all that changed when the grace of the Lord shone into the midst of his darkness, because Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and transform them into trophies of His grace.

Like Paul. Like the thief on the cross and the tax-collecting thief Zacchaeus. Like the immoral woman at the well, and the “woman of the city,” and the woman caught in the act of adultery. Like the demon-possessed and the blind and the lepers and the lame who believed in Him. Like you and like me and like whosoever believes in Jesus for salvation, turning away from sin and turning in faith to the One whose blood shed on the cross offers forgiveness and mercy and everlasting life and eternal joy.

Friend, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That’s why we sing! That’s why we celebrate! Jesus has saved us and changed us so that we’re no longer walking in darkness, but by following the One who is the light of the world, by taking up our cross to follow, we’re walking in the light of life!

Why not come to Christ today? Don’t wait. Don’t keep making excuses. Don’t let your past keep you in darkness. The blazing light of heaven’s glory is shining for you now. His blood covers all your sin, and the His victory over death has been won. It’s time to follow Jesus and declare with Him, “I Will Embrace the Cross.”