A brief reflection into the meaning of the cross

I understand how challenging it can be when someone questions the credibility of your beliefs. I was recently talking with a gentleman, and in the course of our conversation it came up about why I celebrate Good Friday. And he said to me, “But that’s just your interpretation. The Bible means whatever people want it to mean.” Classic objection.

He went on to say that, “If the cross and Christianity means something to you and it helps you in that way, well that’s great, but the Bible and the cross can mean something completely different to other people, and who can say for certain what it can and cannot mean?” Oh the joys of philosophical debates!

An objection like this can often catch Christians off guard, leaving them unsure of how to respond. If you’re a Christian, my guess is that you’ve also encountered a similar form of this objection, or if you’re not a Christian, that you may hold to a similar line of reasoning. What do we do with this?

For starters, it’s important to recognize the many philosophical assumptions and presuppositions behind this type of comment. While some may find it helpful to explore all the epistemological issues of whether we can have true knowledge without absolute certainty, I prefer a more direct approach. I shared two things with my friend that have truly helped me, and after our talk, I believe helped him too.

1. Holding to a particular interpretation doesn’t automatically make it a wrong interpretation.

Try this. Ask someone who raises this objection to you, “So, what?” The fact that a person holds to a particular interpretation of the Bible doesn’t somehow immediately make it a wrong interpretation. It’s funny how people assume that if I admit that something is my personal view then that somehow makes that view not as credible. The real issue is this: Is someone’s interpretation credible or not?

Also, keep in mind that the skepticism underlying this line of thought contradicts itself. It’s self-refuting. You could kindly point out to the individual, “But isn’t that simply your interpretation? It seems like you interpret knowledge in a way that discredits someone’s viewpoint just because it’s personal. However, isn’t it true that this perspective is your own personal view?” It’s not playing the “gotcha” game; it’s simply pointing out the logical inconsistency in such a comment.

A more constructive line of inquiry of my beliefs would be something along the lines of: Why do you adhere to that specific interpretation of the cross? What leads you to believe in the significance of the cross to the extent of celebrating it on Good Friday? What reasons support the serious consideration of your interpretation? This naturally brings us to the Bible itself.

2. The Bible doesn’t just give us the facts of the cross, it also gives us the meaning of those facts. 

Contrary to what many people believe, the bible doesn’t just give us the facts and then leave the interpretation of those facts up to us. It presents historical information about the crucifixion alongside the spiritual significance of what it means for our lives. This pattern is evident throughout the Bible — it provides both factual details and their deeper meanings. Here are several examples of what I mean (see what I did there? 🤓) …

The Facts: “But he was pierced…” 
The Meaning: “…for our transgressions…” – Isaiah 53:5a 

The Facts: “He was crushed…”
The Meaning: “…for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5b

The Facts: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted” – Isaiah 53:7a
The Meaning: “And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6b

The Facts: “He was delivered up…” 
The Meaning: “…for our trespasses.” – Romans 4:25

The Facts: “Christ died…”
The Meaning: “…for our sins.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3

The Facts: “He, who knew no sin…”
The Meaning: “…became sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Meaning: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” – Galatians 3:13,
The Meaning: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” – 1 Peter 2:24

The Facts: “For Christ also suffered…”
The Meaning: “…once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” – 1 Peter 3:18

The Facts: “God sent his Son…”
The Meaning: “…to be the propitiation (judgment-bearer) for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

It’s evident from this small selection of verses that the Bible doesn’t just report the facts of the cross, it also conveys (in no uncertain terms!) the meaning and interpretation of what the cross of Christ accomplished.

Just picture a bunch of students in a classroom, all scratching their heads over the meaning of a famous poem and debating it back and forth. Each one giving his or her own interpretation. And then, out of the blue, the poet himself strolls in and starts unraveling the mysteries of his own work. Well, that’s one way to wrap up a heated debate – can’t argue with the person who penned the lines, can you? That’s like saying, “I don’t think the author meant that,” and then the author goes, “Actually, I did.” In a similar fashion, God has handed us the tragic poetry of the cross and also left us several notes with the redemptive interpretation of this epic tale. The bottom line is this: Will we trust the Author of redemption or not?

For me, I choose to believe the Author. For me, I celebrate Good Friday because my interpretation of the cross is that Jesus bore my sins in his body on the tree so that I can be completely forgiven and his forever. And you’re right; that is indeed my interpretation. But it’s not just my interpretation. It’s the interpretation that aligns with the comprehensive testimony of Scripture, the historic confessions of the Christian Church down through the centuries, and the fulfillment of every longing heart who yearns to belong to someone who would love them even unto death.