Did Jesus preach the Cross for Salvation in His earthly ministry?

[Christine]

Did Jesus preach the cross for salvation?

by Justin Johnson

Paul explains the preaching of the cross as it was given to him by Christ:

      “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Cor 1:17-18

Although we now know that the redemptive work of Christ’s death and resurrection is the crux of our message of salvation for today, we must be careful not to read into Jesus’ ministry what is not there.

We would search in vain for a clear presentation of the preaching of the cross in the ministry of Jesus and the disciples in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.

Gospel of the kingdom

Jesus did not preach his redemptive work on the cross for salvation during his ministry on earth. Instead, Jesus taught the gospel of the coming kingdom (Mark 1:14-15).

This gospel consisted of repentance from sin, doing the commandments, and seeking first the kingdom (Matt 5:19, 6:33). Although these ideas are commonly recognized as good and Biblical ideas, but none of them include faith in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

It was the specific message of the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus limited his ministry:

      “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. “ – Matthew 4:23

Jesus even taught the disciples the same gospel of the kingdom and told them to tell others prepare for its coming. As a sign of its imminence, he gave them power to heal the sick:

      “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. “ – Luke 9:1-2

The first mention of the cross

When Peter revealed Jesus as the Christ, Jesus told how he would give him the keys of the kingdom. Having spent months teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, Peter would be one of the most qualified for this leadership position.

However, it was not until that day that Jesus first spoke about his death, and it was a private teaching.

      “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. “ – Matthew 16:21

Even more interesting, the same Peter to whom God revealed that Jesus was the Christ was kept excluded from the meaning of the cross. Jesus reprimanded Peter for his rebuke with the famous exclamation, ‘Get thee behind me Satan’ (Matthew 16:23).

It is evident that if Christ did not first mention his death and resurrection until more than half-way through his ministry, and even then his chief disciples were ignorant about it, that Jesus was not preaching the redemptive work of the cross for salvation.

Eternal life according to Jesus

It may be supposed that although Jesus talked a lot about the kingdom, that he still taught faith in his death on the cross for justification unto life. However, again, the Scriptures show us otherwise.

When asked how to get eternal life, Jesus responded to that commandment keeping would gain righteousness worthy of life eternal in the kingdom.

      “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. “ – Matthew 9:17

In another instance John records Jesus’ words about attaining favor with God:

      “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” – John 14:21

During his popularly quoted Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught a conditional forgiveness whereby men could receive God’s forgiveness.

      “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Instead of free justification based upon the redemptive shed blood of Christ at the cross, Jesus seems to be preaching a different message than what was revealed to Paul.

Jesus' exclusive ministry

Instead of coming to preach the cross of Christ as Paul was sent to do (1 Cor 1:17), Paul said that Jesus came for a specific purpose – to confirm the OT promises.

      “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” – Romans 15:8

Jesus came to a specific people, to preach a specific message, and to die a specific death. What can not be found in his exclusive ministry is salvation from the preaching of the cross.

Where Jesus sent his disciples preaching the kingdom and baptizing for admittance, Paul was sent not to baptize but to preach the cross (John 4:1, Matt 28:19, 1 Cor 1:17). Where Jesus went to a specific people, the circumcision, Paul's ministry included every man despite their nationality or status with God.

Although we have further information about the cross of Christ, and free justification through the blood of Jesus, we must be careful not to read doctrine into Jesus earthly ministry that was not clearly revealed until later.

Even though Paul presents the gospel of Christ as the ‘power of God unto salvation’, we must remember that the gospel that Paul preached was given by revelation of Jesus after Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom 1:16, Gal 1:11-12).
 

[Christine]

The above is an excellent article that should make you THINK.

[MaricoG]

It was an awesome post, simply an excellent article.

A question....does only a remanent know this, or is this something new that has been revealed...or, why hasn't "mainstream" Christianity seen this? Understood and taught this?

[Christine]

It was an awesome post, simply an excellent article.

A question....does only a remanent know this, or is this something new that has been revealed...or, why hasn't "mainstream" Christianity seen this? Understood and taught this?

Excellent question, Mari.

Here is the answer which is found also here on the website:

This is one of the five most common questions that people ask when they are shown how to rightly divide the Scriptures. It is so common because society has taught us to rely solely on the conclusions of scholarship, to 'go with the flow', and that what is popular is accepted as right.


However, if we are to rely on the Word of God as our final authority and not popularity or the status quo then we must "compare spiritual things with spiritual", as God instructs in 1 Cor 2:13.

Romans 3:4 tells us that we should "let God be true and every man a liar". This does not mean that every man is wrong, but that God is always right. So then, instead of asking "Who else teaches this?" we should be asking, "Does God teach this?"

We read in Galatians 1:11 that Christ revealed to Paul a message that was "not after man":

11 "But I certify you, brethren, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. 12 FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST."

Paul's message was not taught to him, but he received it by revelation. The content was not known by anyone before Paul, as explained in Colossians 1:25-26, it was a mystery:

25 Whereof I am made a minister, ACCORDING TO THE DISPENSATION OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD. 26 EVEN THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS.

Paul tells us in 2 Tim 2:15 to "study to show ourselves approved unto God" and to "rightly divide the word of truth":

Although there have been many men in the past who have labored to make known this message of Paul's distinct message of Grace revealed by Jesus, the truth of the message does not depend on popularity but in Scripture.

There are many who will make themselves ashamed before God because they did not study the Scriptures or rightly divide the word of truth. Paul dealt with a similar issue of popularity and credibility in his ministry, and replied to it in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13:

12 FOR WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES OF THE NUMBER, OR COMPARE OURSELVES WITH SOME THAT COMMEND THEMSELVES: BUT THEY MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES, AND COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, are not wise.

13  But we will not boast of things without our measure, but ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE RULE WHICH GOD HATH DISTRIBUTED TO US, a measure to reach even unto you.


The message is understood by those who DO rightly divide the scriptures as God so advised us in 2 Tim. 2:15 and has always been there. See how important those instructions ARE and how much we miss when we don't follow them?

Does this help?

[MaricoG]

Yes, yes, yes!  It does help, and it makes such sense, too. 

[Christine]

Great article!