By: Johnny O. Trail
While I was a student at MTSU, I was a political science major. I aspired to become a lawyer at the time, and I participated in the collegiate mock trial tournaments that were held in our region of the country. I enjoyed participating in mock trial and won an award from the MTSU chapter of the organization.
I really enjoyed cross examining the witnesses that were provided by the opposing counsel. Carefully worded leading questions would help provide the testimony that I felt was most beneficial to my team’s position. Participating in cross examinations and the overall mock trial experience was highly educational.
There is another type of “cross examination” that humankind needs to be engaged in regularly. That “cross examination” is done considering the cross that carried the weight of our Savior suspended between heaven and earth. Our sins separated us from God, and some type of restitution had to be made for the redemption of humankind. Jesus came to serve humanity by giving His life’s blood for our transgressions. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Our “cross examination” should result in realizing that the only possible atonement for our sins was offered by Jesus at Calvary. There was no other way that God could secure our salvation other than through the death of His Son. Through obedience to the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4), His blood washes away our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
Our “cross examination” should result in understanding the horrible nature of sin and the cost for our redemption. The agonizing death Jesus endured at the cross informs us of how terrible sin truly is. Matthew 27:26-31 says, “Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.” We may see nothing wrong with our transgressions of God’s law, but the death of Jesus says otherwise. Jesus was tortured, spat upon, ridiculed, and murdered for our sins. The terrible cost exacted upon Him should tell us how dreadful our transgressions are.
Our “cross examination” should convict us of the love of God and the great lengths Jesus was willing to go to for our salvation. Only a loving God, would create beings in His spiritual image that would later need the redemption provided through His only begotten Son at Calvary. 1 Peter 1:18-23 says, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
Our “cross examination” should result in our loving obedience to the commandments of God regarding salvation. If Jesus found it necessary to be compliant unto death to secure the souls of those who were His disciples, we should at the very least be obedient too. Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
With all these things in mind, we need to “cross examine” ourselves when we are partaking of the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” This self-examination does not mean that we have obtained sinless perfection (I John 1:8-10), but it does mean that we understand our lost and undone condition without the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary.
In essence, we are called upon to examine ourselves regularly to keep ourselves holy and pure in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13-16 says, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” A regular “cross examination” will help us be sensitive to sin and express continual love for a Savior who died on a cross where I should have been nailed.