The message of the Cross is the heart of the Christian gospel. The records of the life of Jesus devote more attention to it than any other part of his ministry. The rest of the New Testament constantly underlines its centrality for Christian faith.
But Jesus and the apostles spoke of ‘the cross’ as a principle of Christian experience as well as the chief symbol of God’s love. Belonging to Jesus Christ (he said) meant taking up the cross personally and living for him rather than for ourselves.
