The Cross of Christ: WHY?

In this talk, Richard Cunningham considers why Jesus had to die on the cross. He refers to Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ, and covers six misconceptions about the Cross while explaining its real significance for our lives.

Six misconceptions about the Cross:

1. The Cross is something sentimental
2. Jesus chose to die to start a new religion
3. The life and teaching of Jesus are separate from his death
4. We don’t see the danger posed by God’s holiness and our sin
5. There must be another way to be forgiven apart from the Cross
6. I’m not bad enough to need the Cross

While clarifying these misconceptions, Richard explains the true significance of the Cross for our lives.

“Nothing but the resurrection can explain the birth of Christianity.”
“It is still the Cross, not the tomb, that the Church had chosen to be the primary symbol of faith.”

http://www.bethinking.org/bible-jesus/introductory/why-did-jesus-have-to-die-on-the-cross.htm

The painting is by:

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) Italian 1490-1576

It has nothing to do with Richard Cunningham or the UCCF.  He may well have chosen a completely different portrayal of the Crucifixion, and who could blame him?  Not me.