The Wondrous Cross

[Terry Cornett]

Since your theme this coming year is "the wondrous cross," I thought you might enjoy the following quote from John of Damascus (c. 676-749):

"Every action, therefore, and performance of miracles by Christ are most great and divine and marvelous; but the most marvelous of all is His precious Cross. For no other thing has subdued death, expiated the sin of the first parent, despoiled Hades, bestowed the resurrection, granted the power to us of contemning the present and even death itself, prepared the return to our former blessedness, opened the gates of Paradise, given our nature a seat at the right hand of God, and made us children and heirs of God, save the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For by the Cross, all things have been made right.
-- Chap. XI, Book IV, Exposition on the Orthodox Faith

[Don Davis]

This is a phenomenal quote. Wanna do something fun, brother? I think I am going to write a little paragraph or two on each of his elements of the Cross:


For no other thing has subdued death
expiated the sin of the first parent
despoiled Hades
bestowed the resurrection
granted the power to us of contemning the present and even death itself
prepared the return to our former blessedness
opened the gates of Paradise
given our nature a seat at the right hand of God
and made us children and heirs of God
all things have been made right.


It will be a little devotional for us to use, no more than 300 words per element. Do you want in on this, seeing that the quote came from you? Regardless, thanks for the quote! Powerful, marvelous stuff.

Don