In the opening chapter, J. M. Davies invites you to mount the heights of Scripture, revealing the Cross of Christ as the “Everest” at the summit of God’s revelation — its central, pre-eminent theme. He shows that without the Cross, the Bible loses its heartbeat: its message becomes a mere collection of stories, ethics, and prophecy, but not the life-giving center that grants hope, redemption, and transformation.

Davies traces the prominence of the Cross throughout both Old and New Testaments: in the foundational narratives (Sacrifice of Isaac, Passover Lamb, Day of Atonement), in the prophetic literature, in the Gospels’ account of death, burial, resurrection, and in the Epistles’ doctrinal unfolding.

Through vivid biblical references and stirring imagery, Chapter 1 helps listeners see the Cross not just as one among many Christian themes, but as the pivot between eternity, the fulcrum of history, and the foundation of Christian identity. If you’ve ever wondered why Christ’s death matters so much, this chapter lays the bedrock.