--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is why for thousands of years…" description: "\"This is why for thousands of years Christians have found the cross to be so central to life. It speaks to us of God's suffering, God's pain, God's brok..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/rob-bell-1025_broken_this-is-why-for-thousands-of-years-chris_3081666.png" --- # This is why for thousands of years Christians have found… ![“This is why for thousands of years Christians have found the cross to be so central to life. It speaks to us of God's suffering, God's pain, God's broken heart. It's God making the first move and then waiting for our response.” quote by Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/rob-bell-1025_broken_this-is-why-for-thousands-of-years-chris_3081666.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/rob-bell-1025_broken_this-is-why-for-thousands-of-years-chris_3081666.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/rob-bell-1025_broken_this-is-why-for-thousands-of-years-chris_3081666.png) > “This is why for thousands of years Christians have found the cross to be so central to life. It speaks to us of God's suffering, God's pain, God's broken heart. It's God making the first move and then waiting for our response.” [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The cross symbolizes God’s suffering and invitation to respond, central to Christian faith. **In simple terms:** The cross shows God's pain and invites us to act. Key Takeaway Embrace the call to respond to divine love. Themes faith redemption suffering Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church teachings - personal reflection - counseling sessions Key Concepts theology symbolism relationship Questions to Reflect On - What does the cross mean to you? - How do you respond to divine invitation? A Different Perspective Some view the cross differently, leading to varied interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-cross-5259418/) [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Cross Central](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-central-2979606/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [God Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-pain-465555/) [God Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-suffering-765962/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-christian-216042/) ## Related quotes > [The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-cross-is-the-central-event-in-time-and-eternity-and-the-answer-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Why is it that some Christians cross land and sea, continents and cultures, as missionaries? What on earth impels them? It is not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/why-is-it-that-some-christians-cross-land-and-sea-continents-and/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [God can be found only in suffering and the cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-can-be-found-only-in-suffering-and-the-cross/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If God wishes to be born as man and to unite mankind in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, He suffers the terrible torment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/if-god-wishes-to-be-born-as-man-and-to-unite-mankind-in-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Over the years since I became a Christian, I have always deliberately explained that I have 'accepted Jesus Christ.' 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When they tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/for-years-christians-in-particular-have-been-attacked-and-silenced-as/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [For two thousand years Christianity has been telling us: life is death, death is life; it is high time to consult the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/for-two-thousand-years-christianity-has-been-telling-us-life-is-death/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [“I went down to my baby's house And I sat down on the step Said 2,000 years of Christian history, baby And you ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-went-down-to-my-baby-s-house-and-i-sat-down-on-the-step-said-2-000/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For seventeen hundred years the Christian sect has done nothing but harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/for-seventeen-hundred-years-the-christian-sect-has-done-nothing-but/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“It’s all biology. If it weren’t for two thousand years of the Christian tradition we wouldn’t think of pretending otherwise…Romance is the true opiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-craig/it-s-all-biology-if-it-weren-t-for-two-thousand-years-of-the/) [Amanda Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-craig/) > [Said 2,000 years of Christian history, baby And you ain't learned to love me yet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/said-2-000-years-of-christian-history-baby-and-you-ain-t-learned-to/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And if God is a suffering God, if this whole universe is borne on a heart infinite in compassion, then the more we suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/and-if-god-is-a-suffering-god-if-this-whole-universe-is-borne-on-a/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [And my heart beat faster for the mountains of eastern Europe, finally, beat faster for the one hope that somewhere we might find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/and-my-heart-beat-faster-for-the-mountains-of-eastern-europe-finally/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [God is with us, not beyond us, in suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wiman/god-is-with-us-not-beyond-us-in-suffering/) [Christian Wiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wiman/) ## More by Rob Bell > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Why blame the dark for being dark? 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And this is because the most powerful things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news-2/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“I don’t read the Bible like a flat line. I don’t see all of the passages in the Bible sitting equally side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-don-t-read-the-bible-like-a-flat-line-i-don-t-see-all-of-the/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [To elevate abstract doctrines and dogmas over living, breathing, embodied experiences of God's love and grace, then, is going the wrong direction. It's taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/to-elevate-abstract-doctrines-and-dogmas-over-living-breathing/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The modern world has created airports and hospitals and put 10,000 songs in our pocket. 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It takes firm resolve to pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-takes-quite-a-spine-to-turn-the-other-cheek-it-takes-phenomenal/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) [Explore all 305 Rob Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. 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