On the Cross: Where God’s anger and Mercy Embraced
- Pr Enos Mwakalindile
- Apr 25
- 5 min read
You know those nails that nailed Jesus to the cross? They weren’t just metal—they were like a huge mark. They were like a long shadow that stretches from the past to the present. That’s where God said “yes” to his love and “no” to sin through the blood of Jesus. It’s where God’s anger and mercy embraced, and the world began to change.
But we still wonder:
Why did Jesus die? Because there was no other way? If God is just and loves justice, why did he allow an innocent person to suffer like that?
Within these questions lies a great mystery—the mystery of reconciliation with God. The cross is not just about getting your personal sins forgiven; it is about how God initiates new life through the death of Jesus.
⚖️ The Cry of Justice, the Weight of the World
Our world is full of problems. Leaders think only of themselves, children cry for food, courts do not listen to the poor. As the prophet Habakkuk mournfully asked, so we too say:
"O Lord, how long?" (Habakkuk 1:2)
And the Psalmist wonders:
"If you, O Lord, were to keep track of our sins, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3)
The world’s problem isn’t just politics or bad economics—it’s the hearts of people. Sin destroys the beauty of God in us. It’s like breaking a king’s beautiful guitar, and then trying to beat it with a stick. True justice doesn’t just mean punishing—it also means healing, cleansing, and putting things right. (Romans 3:23-26)
🧸The Cross: God's Plan of Redemption and Love
The cross was no accident. It was God’s own plan. Jesus wasn’t just killed—he gave himself up. He bore the weight of our sins, our shame, and the punishment that we deserved. He drank the cup of suffering that was ours.
The Climax of God's Story
The cross of Christ is the culmination of God’s great story—a story of love, faithfulness, and redemption for a fallen world. On the cross, God’s promises to Israel were fulfilled. Jesus bore the curse of the covenant on behalf of his people, as it is written:
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13).
He died not as just one person but as a representative of all—all humanity, the nation of Israel, and the entire world.
Suffering and Judgment on Our Behalf
In his body he took on the pain, shame, and rebellion of mankind:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).
Through His death, He underwent judgment on our behalf, breaking the power of death and sin. As the writer of Romans says: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak in the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3).
The Battle Between Light and Darkness
The cross is the place of the true battle between light and darkness. It is where Jesus won.
“He disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).
It is a victory invisible to ordinary eyes, but made manifest to those who see with the eyes of faith: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The Mystery of God's Love
Above all, the cross is the mystery of God's love.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
In Christ, God himself descends, enters into human suffering, and transforms it into a source of compassion: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Redemption and a New Beginning
Jesus broke the chains of sin and death. As the book of Colossians says: “He disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them” (Colossians 2:15). As a result of that victory, the cross brings forgiveness:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14)
But beyond redemption and forgiveness, the cross also ushers in a new beginning for creation:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, new things have come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Good News of Redemption
This is good news—not just forgiveness, but a new beginning for everyone and everything. Thus, the cross is not just a reminder of sorrow but a symbol of God’s victory through love. It is a door of freedom for the captives (Luke 4:18), a robe of honor for those filled with shame, and a light of eternal life for those in darkness. The cross carries this message: God has not abandoned us; but he came to us, taking our curse, that we might wear his crown of glory.
🌍Where God’s Anger and Mercy Embraced: New World was Born
Here, when we talk about justice, we often think of revenge. But God's justice is different—it is healing, reconciling, and recreating.
"What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
On the cross, we see God's justice manifesting mercy. It is not like the cold law of a court, but the warmth of God that restores life to the lost.
And this righteousness doesn't just stop in your heart—it extends to your family, your community, and the entire world. The resurrection of Jesus is like a seed planted; a new world begins to grow, slowly but surely.
"Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)
🔥 Living by the Power of the Cross
The cross is not just a memorial for Good Friday—it is our daily life.
"I have been crucified with Christ...it is no longer I who live." (Galatians 2:20)
If you follow Jesus, then you must take up your cross every day. Not out of fear, but out of love. Your life becomes a response to God's mercy. You become a reconciler—a forgiver—a doer of justice.
Also, the cross teaches us humility. No one can boast before the cross. If we have been saved by grace, then we should live with gratitude and respect for everyone.
❓ Questions We Ask Every Day
Why did Jesus die? Because God couldn't just forgive without doing so?
Answer: Forgiving without cost is not true forgiveness. Sin hurts, breaks, destroys. The cross is where God pays that price, to heal what is broken. (Hebrews 9:22)
Doesn't the cross show God's cruelty!?
Answer: Not at all. The cross is a symbol of God’s love, not His wrath. God did not torture Jesus for pleasure, but took our suffering upon Himself to save us. (John 3:16)
What does being reconciled to God mean today?
Answer: It is to live as one who has been redeemed. To forgive your neighbor, to seek justice, and to show God’s love through your actions. To be a light in the darkness of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16)
🙏 Final Blessing
And may the shadow of the cross cover you,
And may the blood of Jesus wash you,
And may the hope of resurrection give you strength every day.
Go, live in the righteousness of God. Amen.
📣 Tell us what you think
How does the cross make you see God's justice? Write us your thoughts. Ask a question. Reflect on Isaiah 53 and tell us what has touched you.
📌 For Those Searching for Information Online
Keywords: Reconciliation with God's Justice
Brief Description: The cross of Jesus is the place where God showed his wrath and mercy to reconcile the world to himself . Discover what it means to be reconciled to God, and how the cross changes our lives today.
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