Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life.
The cross has been the symbol of Christianity for hundreds of years. These bead cross necklaces (in the picture above) were made by Nuer women from the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Churches in and around Khartoum.
Like millions of other Christians, these women use the simple cross to remind them of two things:
1. Where Jesus went for us.
“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the skull. Here they crucified him”
John 19:17-18.
2. What Jesus wants expects us to do.
“Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me”
Matthew 10:38.
This month, God-willing, we will celebrate Jesus’ death, followed by his resurrection on Easter day. We can celebrate his death because of:
God’s purpose for it. It was no accident of history.
God’s presence in it. God was in Christ bringing the world back to himself.
God’s provision for human salvation through it. Now we have access to God and the risen Jesus stands as our advocate.
Only God is good enough to pay the penalty sin deserved.
And in JESUS he did.
For what it means to Live as the People of the Cross today, on the HOME PAGE of this website, click on ISSUES FACING CHRISTIANS IN SUDAN TODAY,
then select “Prologue – the People of the Cross” from the subject index.
April 2009.