The Cross is God's Victory Dance

     In many sports, the person who scores either has a dance or a symbol of some sort to proclaim victory over the team or person that was not able to stop them. The most symbolic would be Lebron's statement after he scores; as he walks away from the basket he brings his knees up and puts his hands down on either side as if he is breaking something, a symbol of might and power. Another example would be NFL players, often they are seen doing dances all the time after they score a touchdown. Everyone has their own personal victory dance and victory statement used to display the defeat or shame of their opponent. 
     In the same manner, the cross of Christ is God's victory dance over sin, death, and Satan himself. In Colossians 2:13-15, Paul talks about the change from death to life that takes place in someone's life through the death of Jesus Christ. He says that we were dead in our transgressions, yet God is his mercy and grace brings us to life in Christ and forgave all of our sins. First, it should make one be struck by awe and wonder that God makes us alive in Christ even though we were dead in our transgressions. We made no move to do good or to be holy, we were completely dead, then God is his goodness and mercy makes us alive! Second, he does not simply forgive some of our sins, or the "really bad ones", God forgives all of our sins and transgressions and cancels our debt. 
     Paul gives this beautiful image when talking about our debt and sin. He says that our debt and our sin has been nailed to the cross. Jesus was nailed to the cross, he becomes sin and becomes death for us because we cannot pay the penalty of our sin. My sin and your sin is nailed to the cross, "not in part, but the whole". Then comes the "victory dance"; in Colossians 2:15 (NIV) states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, by triumphing over them by the cross." God not only defeats sin and death through the death of Jesus on the cross but he makes a spectacle of sin and death through the cross. The cross is God's victory dance on top of sin and death! 
     When I read the word spectacle, I cannot help but think of some major performance that is awesome and baffles one's mind. Here the Lord puts on a spectacle; he uses Christ shame on the cross to trample sin and death. Even to have a victory dance over evil. When the world thought they were getting rid of the "king of the Jews", the God of the universe uses Jesus on the cross to display his grace, mercy, and justice all in one. He puts to shame (not only shame, but defeats) sin, death, and Satan through this spectacle.