In late May, 1971, my wife, daughter and I were in Washington, D.C. Like millions of others at the time who were visiting our nation’s capital, we wanted visit the grave site of former President John F. Kennedy. As we entered Arlington National Cemetery we were inadvertently caught up into a huge funeral procession. It happened to be the procession for Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier during World War II. He, at age 47, had been killed in an airplane crash.
Arlington Cemetery is a most impressive place. Some of our country’s greatest leaders and many of the heroes who have fought and died defending the liberties we enjoy are buried there. My first impression upon entering this cemetery was to be amazed at the acres and acres of crosses. Some might ask, “Why use crosses?” he answer can be found in these words: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The world has made the cross the highest symbol of sacrifice and proudly places it above all the graves of those who have died in the service of our country. One of the greatest social service agencies in the world is named The Red Cross. Why the cross? The world has made the cross of Christ the symbol of humanitarian service. The world believes in the cross! The world will never forget the One who said of Himself, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
From the day of the first Christian Pentecost until now the cross has been central in the preaching and program of Christian churches. It was the central point in the sermon preached by Simon Peter on that day. A major portion of the four gospels concerns the death of Christ: twenty percent of Matthew; forty percent of Mark; twenty-five percent of Luke; fifty percent of John. Every letter written by Paul is rich with the message of the cross. Everywhere he went, Paul said, “I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2).
The Roman emperor Constantine placed the cross on the Christian flag, and the early church placed it on every altar. Missionaries carried the cross across ancient Europe, painting it upon doors and walls, making it central to everything they did. The cross was also placed at the heart of the oldest Christian creed, “Was crucified, dead, and buried.” For 2,000 years Christians have made the cross the major theme of prayer and song, sermon and service.
It is obvious to any Bible student that Jesus, from the very beginning of His public ministry, set His face steadfastly toward Jerusalem. It was at Jerusalem that He was destined to die for the sins of the world. He did everything He could possibly do to prepare His disciples for His crucifixion and death, and stated that it was for the purpose of dying that He had come into the world. We see it clearly in His words, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life his life for the sheep . . . And I lay down my life for the sheep . . . No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:11, 15, 18).
Put simply, the crucifixion means this: God loves us. He wants to meet our deepest need. He wants us to have life – life that is abundant and eternal. He does not want us to die and never live. He does not want us to die in sin and live forever beyond meaningful fellowship with Him. That is why He paid a tremendous price for our salvation.
Harry Webb Farrington, in his poem entitled, “Our Christ,” expresses it this way:
“I know not how that Calvary’s cross
A world from sin could free;
I only know its matchless love
Has brought God’s love to me.”
The Paper Pulpit 
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