The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is a mystery that “was kept secret since the world began,” but it has been “made manifest” (Romans 16:25, 26). It is “the great truth around which all other truths cluster.”1 Its understanding will help us to comprehend other problems of life for “the mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries.”2

From the pen of Inspiration we find the following advice, “We must gather about the cross. Christ and Him crucified should be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful emotion. We should keep in our thoughts every blessing we receive from God, and when we realize His great love we should be willing to trust everything to the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.”3

As we contemplate and try to understand its enigmas, may our admiration of the cross deepen and our views broaden; and while this great and grand mystery begins to unfold before us, may our faith increase in the supreme Sacrifice of the Godhead.

Much has been said and written about Jesus’ death. But what is the true meaning of this grand event that has divided history? In the scope of the great controversy between good and evil, the word of Inspiration points out several reasons why Christ came and died on Calvary’s cross:

In the sacerdotal prayer offered right before His betrayal, Jesus spoke of the purpose of His earthly journey: “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them”(John 17:26). To declare God’s name is to reveal His character (Exodus 34:5-7), and of such character love is the essence for “God is love”(1 John 4:8). This was one of the objects of Christ’s mission on earth. The Spirit of Prophecy explains: “Our Lord, having committed Himself to the wonderful work of redemption, would withhold nothing necessary to the completion of His plan. He poured out all heaven to man in that one great gift.”4

“Nothing could have induced Christ to leave His honor and majesty in heaven, and come to a sinful world, to be neglected, despised, and rejected by those He came to save, and finally to suffer upon the cross, but eternal, redeeming love, which will ever remain a mystery.”5

“Who can measure the love of God? Angels cannot comprehend it; it is to them a depth of mystery that they cannot fathom. Angels marvel at the divine love manifested for fallen men; but men themselves remain indifferent and unimpressed. Few respond to the love of God. Few appreciate the marvelous love of Christ in His life of suffering, in His death of shame.”6

“But while we behold in the cross God’s hatred of sin, we also behold His love for sinners, which is stronger than death. To the world the cross is the incontrovertible argument that God is truth and light and love.”7

“Christ came to earth to vindicate the claims of His Father’s law, and His death shows the immutability of that law”8 which “removes every argument that Satan could bring against the precepts of Jehovah.”9

Centuries before His incarnation, Christ spoke through the Psalmist regarding His mission, and stated what would be His code of conduct: “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:7, 8).

“It was not [Jesus’] purpose to abolish by His death the law of God, but rather to show the immutability of its sacred claims. It was His purpose to ‘magnify the law, and make it honourable’ (Isaiah 42:21), so that every one who should look upon the cross of Calvary with its uplifted Victim should see the unanswerable argument of the perfect truth of the law.”10

“Instead of proclaiming the abolition of the law, Calvary’s cross proclaims in thunder tones its immutable and eternal character. Could the law have been abolished, and the government of heaven and earth and the unnumbered worlds of God maintained, Christ need not have died. The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah.”11

Speaking to the unbelieving Jews who where plotting to destroy Him, Christ declared: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

“When Christ came to our world in the form of humanity, all were intensely interested in following Him as He traversed, step by step, the bloodstained path from the manger to Calvary. Heaven marked the insult and mockery that He received, and knew that it was at Satan’s instigation. . . . Satan had revealed his true character as a liar and a murderer. It was seen that the very same spirit with which he had ruled the children of men who were under his power, he would have manifested if permitted to control the intelligences of heaven.”12

“At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face. Here was their crowning manifestation. Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the malignity of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to destroy Him through whom the love of God was shown.”13

The light that shines from Calvary cross sheds its beams upon the true character of the archdeceiver and reveals who he really is. And this revelation is not only important to us on earth, but it is very helpful to the sinless beings of the vast universe of God.

The appearance of sin as an intruder has imperiled the entire universe and has left every inhabitant perplexed. Since our little planet is the only one that has followed one third of the angelic host in yielding to sin, it has become the lesson book for the entire universe. This is why Paul wrote, “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9), and the Spirit of Prophecy adds: “The atonement of Calvary vindicated the law of God as holy, just, and true, not only before the fallen world but before heaven and before the worlds unfallen.”14

Through the supreme Sacrifice, even the remaining two thirds of loyal angels are being secured from falling. “The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan.”15

If the holy angels who dwell in God’s glory are not safe without the cross, how unsafe are human beings who live on a planet where darkness reigns! How vital is then our daily contemplation of that monument!

“The casting down of Satan as an accuser of the brethren in Heaven was accomplished by the great work of Christ in giving up His life.”16

“Christ bowed His head and died, but He held fast His faith and His submission to God. ‘And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night’ (Revelation 12:10).”17

Thus were fulfilled the words of Christ: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:31, 32). And from this time on Satan does not have any longer access to Heaven (Job 1:6).

In their journey through the wilderness, the murmuring children of Israel were bitten to death by fiery serpents. Upon God’s command, Moses uplifted a serpent of brass on a pole, that whoever was bitten may look and live (Numbers 21:4-9). From that event this question arises: How can a person be saved from death by a simple look to a lifeless serpent?

Here is the key to unlock that mystery: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:14-16).

“Without the cross, man could have no connection with the Father. On it hangs our every hope. In view of it the Christian may advance with the steps of a conqueror; for from it streams the light of the Saviour’s love. When the sinner reaches the cross, and looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy; for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ; and the words of pardon are spoken: Live, O ye guilty sinners, live. Your repentance is accepted; for I have found a ransom.”18

The death of Christ on Calvary is the revealing power of God’s love for the redemption and restoration of humanity. I do not have words to express how deeply I am touched by the thought that Christ would have died for me alone in order that I might live through the eternal ages. (See Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 72.)

“It is through the cross alone that we can estimate the worth of the human soul. Such is the value of men for whom Christ died that the Father is satisfied with the infinite price which He pays for the salvation of man in yielding up His own Son to die for their redemption. What wisdom, mercy, and love in its fullness are here manifested! The worth of man is known only by going to Calvary. In the mystery of the cross of Christ we can place an estimate upon man.” 19

“Christ died on the cross to save the world from perishing in sin. He asks your cooperation in this work. You are to be His helping hand. With earnest, unwearying effort you are to seek to save the lost. Remember that it was your sins that made the cross necessary. When you accepted Christ as your Saviour you pledged yourself to unite with Him in bearing the cross. For life and for death you are bound up with Him, a part of the great plan of redemption.”20

The final result of the cross of Christ is the complete and eternal destruction of sin, its author, and his servants. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, [Jesus] also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

We are told by the prophet Nahum that the Lord “will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9). But which event made certain the eternal safeguard of the universe from the possibilities of a second apostasy? It was doubtlessly the supreme sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary’s cross.

“The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement will never need to be repeated; and there will be no danger of another rebellion in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ?”21

The cross of Christ “is the central pillar on which hangs the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which is for those who accept that cross. Under and around the cross of Christ, that immortal pillar, sin shall never revive, nor error obtain control.”22

“Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our only hope is perfect trust in the blood of Him who can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is our only hope in this world, and it will be our theme in the world to come.”23

From the voice of the one crying in the wilderness over 2,000 years ago echoes to our ears this sublime invitation: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

“Looking upon the crucified Redeemer, we more fully comprehend the magnitude and meaning of the sacrifice made by the Majesty of heaven. The plan of salvation is glorified before us, and the thought of Calvary awakens living and sacred emotions in our hearts. Praise to God and the Lamb will be in our hearts and on our lips; for pride and self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary.

He who beholds the Saviour’s matchless love will be elevated in thought, purified in heart, transformed in character. He will go forth to be a light to the world, to reflect in some degree this mysterious love. The more we contemplate the cross of Christ, the more fully shall we adopt the language of the apostle when he said, ‘God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world’ (Galatians 6:14).”24

“The work of redemption involves consequences of which it is difficult for man to have any conception. ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him’ (1 Corinthians 2:9). As the sinner, drawn by the power of Christ, approaches the uplifted cross, and prostrates himself before it, there is a new creation. A new heart is given him. He becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Holiness finds that it has nothing more to require. God Himself is ‘the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus’ (Romans 3:26). And ‘whom He justified, them He also glorified’ (Romans 8:30). Great as is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. To human beings striving for conformity to the divine image there is imparted an outlay of heaven’s treasure, an excellency of power, that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen.” 25

Was not Adam created in his state of perfection “a little lower than the angels”? (Psalm 8:5). Then how can one, after experiencing sin which is very hateful to God, be placed higher than the holy angels who have never disobeyed Him? This cannot be easily or fully comprehended by human minds. Here we can only realize the awesome power of the cross of Christ.

Great indeed is that mystery (1 Timothy 3:16)! It “increases as we try to comprehend it. It is incomprehensible, and yet human beings will allow worldly, earthly things to intercept the faint view it is possible for mortals to have of Jesus and His matchless love. . . . How can we be enthusiastic over earthly, common things and not be stirred with this picture - the cross of Calvary, the love that is revealed in the death of God’s dear Son?”26

This great and grand mystery of the cross is such a deep and broad theme that even the endless ages of eternal glory will not be enough to exhaust it. Our lovely Redeemer will always bear the stigmas of His crucifixion, “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6).

“The Lord Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, gave His own life to save perishing man, and, oh, what light, what power, He brings with Him! In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily. What a mystery of mysteries! It is difficult for the reason to grasp the majesty of Christ, the mystery of redemption. . . . Redemption is an inexhaustible theme, worthy of our closest contemplation. It passes the comprehension of the deepest thought, the stretch of the most vivid imagination. Who by searching can find out God? . . . The theme of redemption will employ the minds of the redeemed through all eternity. There will be new and rich developments made manifest in the plan of salvation throughout eternal ages.”27

Let us therefore “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), preparing ourselves to join the company of the unfallen beings, and together with them shall we “find in the cross of Christ [our] science and [our] song”28 during the ceaseless ages of everlasting LIFE.