The Irony of the Cross

Recently I wrote about irony. It was in the arena of current events. I explained how "irony" is defined as "the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning" and gave a current events illustration. Often it is humorous; not always. This idea -- words used that end up expressing the opposite -- is a key component of the Cross. Yes, that Cross.

Think about it. One song speaks of the irony of the One who made the seas crying out, "I thirst." I think that just touches the surface. The Cross represents the darkest moment in human history. Human beings rose up against God's Son and put Him to death. That event we call "Good Friday". Irony. Sinners did the worst they could do so that God could show us His best. Irony. In fact, Christ the sinless suffered the ultimate injustice so God could be both just and justifier (Rom 3:26). Irony.

The leaders of the day ridiculed Him as "the King of the Jews" ... which He was. Irony.

Jesus stayed on the Cross when coming off would prove the truth of His claims (Mark 15:31-32) to prove the truth of His claims by dying for us. Irony.

Jesus died rejected by the religious, the "Hosanna hosts", the government, His followers, one of His own friends, and forsaken by God so that God could embrace the "many" (Rom 5:15, 19). Irony.

Jesus surrendered everything (Phil 2:5-8) to gain everything (Phil 2:9-11). Irony.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree' -- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith" (Gal 3:13-14). Irony.

Paul said, "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:2). Irony.

Jesus died that we might live and lives again that we might die to sin. Irony.

Satan achieved his biggest victory that day -- the serpent bruising the heal -- and Christ achieved His biggest victory that day -- crushing the head of the serpent. Irony.

There was nothing so horrific or so majestic as that event in all of history. Irony.

In the Cross, Christ became our Mediator to save those for whom He died. Irony.

Lots of good irony. I bet you could come up with even more. It was the reason He came. It was by His choice. It was the ultimate humiliation for our ultimate exaltation. Lots of irony. Lots of reasons to rejoice, to celebrate, even to be in awe. Not much humor, though.