The text below is a concise summary of E.J. Waggoner’s June 12, 1902, Present Truth UK article, "The Meaning of the Cross," edited to reflect the original language. Nearly all original Bible references are incorporated. You can download the full article here:
https://maranathamedia.com/book/view/the-meaning-of-the-cross
The core of the Gospel and all existence centers on why Christ had to die for the remission of sins. Though the Gospel is simplicity itself, it often seems vague and complicated to Christians. True advancement requires going back to the beginning—like little children learning the alphabet—because in Christ, who is both the beginning and the end, lie all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The cross is not an emergency measure, an arbitrary response to sin, or a unique thing standing apart by itself; rather, it is the eternal principle of God's self-giving life—the continuation of that by which man was created and the full expression of His thought from everlasting to everlasting.
The Law of Giving and Calvary's Revelation: Christ shed His blood because He could not do otherwise and still be Himself; it was in His very nature that He should die by giving—the giving of life, which is the fundamental law by which the whole creation came into existence and is continually upheld. Thus, Calvary serves as an object lesson revealing the true, self-giving character and Fatherhood of God.
Glorying in the Cross and Its Universal Presence: Scripture commands us to glory solely in knowing the Lord—who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness—and in the cross of Christ (Jeremiah 9:23-24; Galatians 6:14). It thus becomes evident that the cross alone reveals God's true character; and because "the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 103:5, R.V.), the cross of Christ is present wherever life and love exist.
The Risk and Sorrow of Giving Life: Bringing life into existence involves inherent risk, self-denial, and sorrow, as the giver intimately shares the suffering of the created. This is seen in God entering all potential suffering in bringing forth His Son—much like human parents sharing their children's pain as a cross to be borne—and in Adam's deep sleep before the creation of Eve, which serves as a type of death to self to bring forth life.
A widespread misunderstanding of the atonement reveals a lingering heathenism within the church—specifically, the false view that Christ died to appease an angry God and reconcile Him to humanity, which describes the character of Satan rather than God.
Because life can come only by the giving of life, the cross is an absolute necessity; we have no life in ourselves, and every created thing is sustained entirely by the continued gift of God's life. When we have sinned and gone astray, there is all the more need for that life to be bestowed to restore His image (1 Corinthians 8:6; Psalm 90:1-2; Romans 1:20; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 4:6).
Nature teems with illustrations reflecting the fundamental law of the universe: life comes solely through the giving of life.
The healing ministry of Jesus reveals that salvation is an active outpouring of life, demonstrating the ongoing power of the cross before Calvary ever took place.
Reconciliation and Salvation Through Life: Believers are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, and being reconciled, they "shall be saved by His life," for Christ came that we might have life more abundantly, making salvation simply the effect of His life through the cross. This is illustrated in His miracles of healing—where "heal" frequently derives from the Greek word sozo (to save)—which were recorded so that believing we might have life through His name (Romans 5:10; John 10:10; John 20:31).
The Cost of Healing: Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead by imparting His own life to supply their lack. When the woman with the issue of blood touched His garment, power went out of Him, and since constant drafts were made upon His life force by the multitudes seeking Him, this outpouring would have resulted in His death had He not stayed connected to the fountain of life (Mark 5:24-34; Luke 6:19).
The Cross Revealed Before Calvary: As Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed of the devil, He was laying down His life for the brethren, just as truly when He breathed out His life on Calvary. So also He did when after His resurrection He breathed on His disciples, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and the cross means far more than just our own salvation—it calls us into union with the Giver of life to be partners with Him in bestowing it upon others.
