The Cross: Our Foundation for Faith and Healing

The cross of Jesus Christ stands as the one eternal sign upon which we must focus our faith. It's not just a historical event, but the very foundation that makes our faith work and brings transformation to our lives today.

What Did Jesus Accomplish at the Cross?

At the cross, Jesus accomplished far more than many realise. He paid the complete price for sin so we could be forgiven and made right with God. Without the cross, we remain enemies of God - but through it, we find peace with Him.

Jesus also made a public spectacle of the devil, taking back the authority that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Through His suffering, He was whipped and beaten so that by His wounds we can be healed. Most powerfully, He was rejected by the Father so that we could be accepted and set free from the devastating wound of rejection.

The Problem of Going Our Own Way

Isaiah 53:6 reveals a truth about all humanity: "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way." This describes the one sin we've all committed - acting independently of God.

We plan our own time, make our own decisions, and live without putting God at the center. From our perspective, this seems reasonable - it's our life, after all. But from God's perspective, this independence is called iniquity - a twisted perversion of what is good.

The good news is that Jesus took this iniquity upon Himself at the cross, making it possible for us to repent and be one with God again.

How Does Faith Release God's Power?

Isaiah 53 begins with a crucial question: "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" This reveals a fundamental truth: whoever believes the report, the arm of the Lord is revealed to them in power.

Faith is simply choosing to believe what God says and acting upon it. It's not complicated or mysterious - it's a decision to trust God's word and put it into practice consistently.

Examples of Faith in Action

In Mark chapter 5, we see three powerful examples of how faith works differently for different people:

The Demon-Possessed Man

A man so tormented by demons that chains couldn't hold him ran to Jesus and worshipped Him when he saw Him. Even a legion of demons that caused 2,000 pigs to commit suicide couldn't stop this man from getting to Jesus. His desperate faith released Jesus's compassion, and he was completely delivered.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

This woman had been bleeding for years and wasn't supposed to be in public or touch anyone. But her faith was simple: "If I can only touch His clothes, I'll be healed." She pressed through the crowd, touched Jesus's garment, and was instantly healed. Jesus felt power go out from Him and stopped to affirm her healing.

Jairus and His Daughter

When Jairus came to Jesus about his dying daughter, his faith was: "Please come and lay Your hands on her and she will be healed." Jesus met him at his point of faith and agreed to come. Even when people brought news that the girl had died, Jesus told Jairus, "Don't be afraid, only believe."

Jesus removed all the negative, unbelieving people from the house and raised the girl from the dead. The key was that Jairus stuck close to Jesus throughout the journey.

What Can We Learn About Walking in Faith?

Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

Notice that Jesus didn't require everyone to have the same kind of faith. He met each person at their individual point of faith. The demon-possessed man worshipped, the woman touched His clothes, and Jairus asked Him to come and lay hands on his daughter. Jesus honored each approach.

Negative Voices Must Be Silenced

When bad news came about Jairus's daughter, Jesus immediately countered it with "Don't be afraid, only believe." He understood that negative reports can destroy faith if we don't neutralize them with God's truth.

Later, Jesus put all the mourning, unbelieving people out of the house before raising the girl. You cannot move effectively in faith when surrounded by negative, unbelieving people.

Delays Don't Mean Denial

Even though there was a delay when Jesus stopped to minister to the woman with the issue of blood, He hadn't forgotten Jairus. Sometimes there are delays we don't understand, but Jesus never forgets us. Often, staying close to Him through delays leads to even greater miracles.

The Power of Corporate Faith

While personal faith is important, corporate faith - when a church body believes together - makes nothing impossible. When believers gather with unified faith, expecting signs and wonders to accompany the preaching of God's word, extraordinary things happen.

The early church filled Jerusalem with the name of Jesus because they couldn't contain their excitement about what God had done. They had hearts for others, not just themselves, and wherever they went, Jesus shone out in glory.

Life Application

This week, choose to make Jesus the center of every decision rather than going your own way. Repent of any areas where you've been acting independently of God and invite Him into your choices. Remember that if God is in the decision, you have success.

Also, examine your faith. Are you believing God's report about what Jesus accomplished at the cross? His word declares that by His stripes you are healed - past tense. The work is finished; now it's about receiving what He's already provided.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I making decisions independently of God, or am I including Him in every choice?
• Do I truly believe that Jesus's word is the final word over any negative report in my life?
• Am I surrounding myself with people of faith, or am I allowing negative voices to influence my beliefs?
• Do I have a heart for others, or am I focused only on my own needs and desires?

The cross has provided everything you need for life and godliness. Jesus's compassion is toward your suffering because He cares. Walk closely with Him, stick to His word, and expect to see His miraculous power at work in your life and through you to others.