There is power in the cross of Jesus Christ!

It seemed to be the weakest moment ever; that is, the Man who claimed to be the Son of God walking right into the hands of the Jewish rulers who had been plotting His death for months.

The Apostle Paul states, "To be sure, he [Jesus] was crucified in weakness" (2 Corinthians 13:4). Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, declared, "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus said, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53).

Jesus surrendered to the cross when it was in His power to sidestep it.

So how did the most apparent display of weakness ever become the source of God's power for all who will bow before it?

There were three things in play: the devil, death, and Hades.

God created the devil (Lucifer) and gave him great power. Lucifer rebelled. Even though God Almighty could have crushed Lucifer at any time, He allowed him to continue and has even temporarily given over into his hands the earth and everything in it. Jesus called Lucifer "the prince of this world" (John 14:30). The devil was wielding great power and sway in the affairs of mankind.

The second thing in play was death. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were separated from the presence of God and cast out of the garden so they could not access the tree of life. Death ensued, and every person born faces the inevitability of death.

The third thing was Hades. Hades was the destination of the dead. Prior to the cross of Christ, all the dead were held in Hades.

God's plan was that Jesus would die on the cross and be buried in a tomb. It looked like the normal process that had been going on for years. But God never intended for Jesus to stay in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead by His awesome power. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the greatest power play ever.

The cross dealt with the devil. The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews declares "that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14). Even though the devil is still working, those who have given their lives to Christ and look to the cross have power over the devil through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The power of death and Hades was overcome by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said of Himself, "I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:17-18).

Jesus conquered death by His resurrection, and He emptied Hades of the saints. Ephesians 4:8 tells us that when Jesus ascended back to His Father, "he led captives in his train."

The cross of Jesus Christ has power. Death still stalks the earth, but everyone who has put their faith and trust in the finished work of Christ has the assurance that their home is in heaven after they die.

The power of the cross delivers us from the devices of the devil when we humble ourselves and cry out to God for grace.

The power of the cross delivers every Christ-follower immediately into the presence of God when they die (2 Corinthians 5:8) instead of being held in Hades, as was the case prior to the resurrection of Christ.

The cross of Jesus Christ has power for daily living-power over sin and self. His resurrection power becomes our power for holy living. Paul gave testimony in Galatians 2:19-20: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

There is power in the cross of Jesus Christ!