The Paper Cross

    Jesus Has Risen

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
 

⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:1-7 New International Version (NIV)

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. - 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

 

Although my young daughter had spent three months in the hospital, her health continued to decline because of an undiagnosed illness. I prayed daily as I sat beside her bed, watching her cry in pain.




One day, I went to the interfaith hospital chapel. As I knelt to pray, I felt a strong need to bow down before a cross, the symbol of power and faith and the assurance of Christ’s presence with me. But there was no cross in the chapel.



  So I tore a piece of paper into the shape of a cross and set it before me as I knelt to pray for my daughter. The cross represents the foundation of my Christian faith, the resurrected Jesus Christ. It reminds me that death has no victory and darkness has no sting; the cross guides me, empowers me, and equips me to face the valleys of my life. The cross, even a paper one marked with a mother’s tears, is evidence for me of the love of God, the power of Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift of love through Jesus Christ. (See 2 Cor. 9:15.)

 

The Author - Malinda Fillingim (North Carolina, USA) - from The Upper Room

Thought for the Day

Calvary is the starting point for all our journeys.

Prayer

Lord of light, help us to remember the power of the cross when we feel helpless. May that power live in us every day. Amen.

Prayer focus  Parents of seriously ill children