The Bridge Is Built

Tetelestai was a builder’s word in Jesus’ day—a word meaning the project is complete. Think about why we have a cross as our symbol. There’s a vertical stake representing God’s holiness extending from heaven to earth. There’s a horizontal crossbeam representing the wideness of God’s grace and mercy, inclusive of all who will come to Him.
When you see a cross, understand that God has built a bridge. God’s holiness intersects with God’s mercy and love at the cross. When Jesus was suspended between heaven and earth, this bridge connected sinful humanity with holy God. The bridge is done! The work is finished! Jesus paid it all!
And why? Just one reason: God loves you. God gave His only Son. Would you offer the life of your child for someone else? I wouldn’t. I could make a list of people for whom I would die—people I love, no questions asked. But if you asked me how many people I would sacrifice one of my children for, that would be a blank page. Zero. I love you, but I don’t love you that much.
But do you know who’s on God’s list? Everybody in the world! No one is excluded. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son!” That’s why Jesus went to the cross. That’s why Jesus finished the work. He did it because of His love for all of us.