by T. Austin-Sparks
Transcribed from conference messages given at Wabanna, MD, USA in July 1967. Words that were not clear are enclosed in [square brackets].
No one can truly contemplate the Cross of our Lord Jesus without being overwhelmed with the sense of what a real thing it was. There's no fiction about that, there's no imagination about that, there's no pretence about that. Terribly, terribly real was that cross... to Him, to His first disciples. And the Cross is not only a reality in history, the New Testament makes it perfectly clear that the Cross is as real in experience for the child of God, as ever it was in history. Today it is just as real in the spiritual experience and history of the child of God as it was when it was enacted those centuries ago at that spot called Calvary. The climax of the risen life is the Cross because all our knowing of the power of His resurrection will only lead us further and further into the meaning of the Cross. The way of victory is ever and always the growing capacity to let go to the Lord. While we hold on, stand our ground, claim our rights, keep things in our hands - we're in defeat.
