What is the state of our community and nation in 2025? We face depression, addiction, isolation, despair, and anxiety. Families are broken, loved ones are suicidal, and the mental health crisis increases. How can Christians address these issues? The glory and love of the cross of Christ are sufficient.
The night before the crucifixion, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.” Glory is the power and majesty of God and His work of judgment, salvation, and blessing. It is His honor and fame, His greatness and wealth. The heavens declare the glory of God, and we see His glory in the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountains, or the birth of a child. It’s His work on the cross: that He would “forgive us our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).” He paid the price for my sin, satisfying God’s wrath against me; did He do this for you? That is His glory.
He also said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This was an old commandment from Leviticus 19:18; what made it new? “To love as I have loved you.” Love your enemy, love those who are different from you, love those who bug the snot out of you. “Grace greater than our sin” love. It’s love 2.0. Sacrificial love. “I will die on the cross in your place” love. “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He would give His only Son, to make a wretch (that’s you) His treasure” love.
What impact would the glory of the cross and love for one another inside and outside the church have? Our community and nation are hurting, plagued by spiritual sickness and emptiness. The glory and love of the cross of Christ are the answer to these issues.