I listened again to the words of the old hymn, There’s Room at the Cross. The chorus echoes and reechoes a reality of grace that becomes very personal to those who respond to it. “There’s room at the cross for you, there’s room at the cross for you; though millions have come, there’s still room for one, yes, there’s room at the cross for you.” The verses of the song convey the shelter and the grace God gives, the power and patience of the God who provides it all, and the desire of God to welcome all who come. It is at the cross that prophecy is culminated, that God’s purposes are accomplished, that Jesus becomes all He claimed to be. It has been said that the ground at the cross is level. What was accomplished there welcomes every man and woman, every child, every race, every need. Yes, the cross represents the salvation that God so freely offers, but the cross represents too the Christ who died there, who wants to be not only our sin-bearer, but also our sufficiency.
In Scripture, Isaiah prophesies of the weaknesses, the sorrows, and the rebellion that belong to us, but Jesus carried them to the cross. The gospels tell us Jesus came to reveal God to us, to show us His righteousness and His love – a righteousness that exposed our sin, but a love that will accept us and affirm us. Through salvation, we are freed from the penalty and the power of sin. And the Jesus who made that possible offers us friendship, companionship, and fatherhood. He longs to teach us, provide light and understanding, give guidance and direction and provision. For those who hunger and thirst spiritually, emotionally, relationally, He is able to fully satisfy. Healing and rest are offered to refresh us. And His sufficiency is not for those who have life all figured out. His sufficiency is for those who know they don’t.
He is the sacrificial Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Good and Great Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Vine who nourishes and empowers, our protection, our husband, our rock, our deliverer, our hope, our righteousness. He is truth and the wisdom of God. What is our need? What is our inadequacy? Where is our emptiness? Why are we struggling? Life is real, and Jesus is sufficient. There is room at the cross. For me. For you. For whatever the need is. He is sufficient. We simply need to come, and linger long and drink deeply. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
(Related Bible reading: Isaiah 53:1-12)
In Scripture, Isaiah prophesies of the weaknesses, the sorrows, and the rebellion that belong to us, but Jesus carried them to the cross. The gospels tell us Jesus came to reveal God to us, to show us His righteousness and His love – a righteousness that exposed our sin, but a love that will accept us and affirm us. Through salvation, we are freed from the penalty and the power of sin. And the Jesus who made that possible offers us friendship, companionship, and fatherhood. He longs to teach us, provide light and understanding, give guidance and direction and provision. For those who hunger and thirst spiritually, emotionally, relationally, He is able to fully satisfy. Healing and rest are offered to refresh us. And His sufficiency is not for those who have life all figured out. His sufficiency is for those who know they don’t.
He is the sacrificial Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Good and Great Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Vine who nourishes and empowers, our protection, our husband, our rock, our deliverer, our hope, our righteousness. He is truth and the wisdom of God. What is our need? What is our inadequacy? Where is our emptiness? Why are we struggling? Life is real, and Jesus is sufficient. There is room at the cross. For me. For you. For whatever the need is. He is sufficient. We simply need to come, and linger long and drink deeply. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
(Related Bible reading: Isaiah 53:1-12)
