When we think of the Cross, we must never associate the words "tragic accident" with it. In this message at the first Pentecost following Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, Peter insisted that two separate streams of power converged at the Cross.
- Evil had its way and brought the Son of God to the Cross through the work of evil men.
- God purposed and planned the evil intentions behind Jesus' crucifixion would become his way of redeeming, cleansing, and saving us.
The Cross was no accident. What the forces hell had intended as our ultimate defeat, God used to bring us redemption and triumph. The best and worst of all things collided. Of course, the Cross wasn't the final answer in this battle; the empty tomb and the resurrected Jesus were. We are the victorious recipients of this grace, paid at such an agonizing cost and administered cruelly by our greatest adversary. Yet God purposed the cross to secure our salvation through Jesus' triumph over the grave.
Holy God, thank you for having a plan for us, to forgive our sins and secure our future with you. Thank you for paying the price for that plan to work. Thank you for triumphing over hell's wickedness and the work of evil people. We love you for all you are and all you have done for us in Jesus, the cross, and the empty tomb. We pray in our Savior's mighty name. Amen.
![Illustration of Acts 2:23 — "[Jesus] was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/3266.jpg "Illustration of Acts 2:23 — \"[Jesus] was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.\"")
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