Reconcilaition

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV

The third major thing I believe that the cross represents is RECONCILIATION.

Colossians 1:20-22

“…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death

to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” NIV

The cross is the place of reconciliation, not the resurrection tomb, it is on the cross that God met man. You have to come to the cross to meet with God, acknowledge your sin, lay it down there  and turn around (or repent) and go the other way. It was on the cross God became one with our sin and peace was made. Now the rift between God and man is the greatest rift that can be but the cross brought that to an end. If the cross can reconcile man to God, it can reconcile husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, tribes, nations and races.

Ephesians 2:13-19

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” KJV

On the cross it was not only the enmity between God and man that was slain, the enmity and division between men too was slain. Christians who are racists in any form either have not been to the cross or are not walking in the reality of it. When you look at people through the cross, you will see that there is no Jew or Gentile, black or white, male or female but all fellow citizens and members of the household of God.