Will the cross of Jesus be in Heaven?
Some of the best conversations I have about our Lord happens with my seven-year-old son Jack! He asks some pretty tough questions like, “Will his stuffed giraffe go to heaven?” I am confident that giraffe will not be in heaven but how do you break that to an overtired seven-year-old with crocodile tears running down his cheeks? To Jack’s credit, questions about his giraffe are not normal. He can hit you with a zinger like, “Dad, I am concerned I do not believe. How do I get faith?”
It’s the Thursday before Good Friday, and Jack pops me with another of his deep questions, “Dad, will the cross of Jesus be in heaven when we get there?”
This comes after my head has been swirling with the thoughts of Isaiah 53 and preparing for communion on Good Friday. It was a question of, good timing. No pun intended! I was happy because I could answer this one!
The short answer to Jack’s question was no; His cross will not be in heaven. However, we will see His scars. Moreover, the major theme of heaven will be the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Eternity will be spent worshiping the Lamb of God who was slain.
John 20:27 says, “Then He(Jesus) said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.””
This was the resurrected body of Jesus. Apparently, Thomas could place his fingers in the wound! This does give testimony to the Lord defeating death because how can someone walk around with an opened wound and survive! I also think these scars will be visible to us in heaven.
Revelation 5:8-10 reads, “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.””
The Lamb of God is repeatedly used throughout the book of Revelation. Reading the entire letter leads me to believe the major theme of heaven will be the sacrificial love of God as seen through the death of His Son.
Jack’s question prompted me to think a little deeper about what type of worship is most pleasing to God. I say this because Isaiah 53:10 says the LORD was pleased to crush Him. If God was pleased to crush Jesus, if we are still going to see the scars of Jesus in heaven, and if the major theme of heaven is going to be centered on the Lamb of God who was slain, then I think what pleases God the most is for us to be most happy in the sacrifice of Jesus.
Many of us will take communion together on this Good Friday. When we do, we will be joining the worship that makes God most happy. When we do, we are being united in worship with those who are worshiping the risen Lamb in heaven. I pray this thought deepens your worship of our God.
Please thank Jack the next time you see him for asking good questions!
