“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death on the cross!” (Philippians 2:8)
The standard symbol of Christianity, as is generally known, is the cross. The ‘cross’ is an expression that is used in more than one meaning in the Bible. The cross sometimes means the doctrine that Christ died for sinners upon the cross—the atonement that He made for sinners, by His suffering for them on the cross—the complete and perfect sacrifice for sin which He offered up, when He gave His own body to be crucified. In short, “the cross,” stands for “Christ crucified”, the only Saviour. This is the meaning in which Paul wrote to the Galatians, “God forbid that I should boast, except in the cross” (Galatians 6:14). He simply meant, “I boast in nothing but Christ crucified, as the salvation of my soul.”
The cross sometimes means the afflictions and trials which believers in Christ have to go through, if they follow Christ faithfully, for their Lord’s sake. This is the sense in which our Lord uses the word when He says, “He who takes not his cross and follows after Me, cannot be my disciple.” (Matt. 10:38).
But the cross also means that wooden cross, on which the Lord Jesus Christ was nailed and put to death on Calvary. This is what Paul had in his mind’s eye, when he told the Philippians that Christ “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8); and this is our focus in our meditation today.
Indeed, the cross is a symbol of shame and curse in the Old Testament era (Deuteronomy 21:23; cf. Galatians 3:13-14). Prisoners and rubbers were nailed or tied to a cross and left to die. Although, in that state, death might not come for several hours or even days, and it usually came by suffocation, when the weight of the weakened body made breathing more and more difficult. The great humility that characterized the birth of Jesus Christ also showed in His going to die on the cross for man without looking at the shame.
One can then imagine and ask why the Perfect Man, the Saviour of the world should die such a shameful death, so that man would not have to face eternal punishment. It is unfortunate that, in the world today, people wear a cross as a piece of costume jewelry, in the name of fashion. Some put it in their vehicles; some put it at the entrance of their houses; while some put it in their pockets, just as a protective ornament. Only few people truly know and appreciate what the cross of Jesus originally stood for.
When Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, wicked men thought they were just executing a man who was disturbing their way of life. They did not realize that the cross was planned by God as the centre for the work of reconciliation of man to Himself, through Jesus Christ (11 Cor. 5:19). No wonder, the cross was chosen as a symbol of Christianity by the early Church because they wished to make known that the climax of the ministry of Jesus Christ was not His birth, or His teaching, or His miracles, but His death and crucifixion. Without the death on the cross, we would not have been reconciled to God. Hear as an orator puts it, “The cross is the greatest condemnation of sin and also the greatest revelation of Grace”.
Jesus Christ died on the cross in great humility without considering the shame, because of His total and genuine love for man. Every follower of Christ must therefore be prepared and humble enough to take up the cross. We must be willing to deny ourselves of any pleasure in this world, and be ready to suffer for Christ’s sake. This is part of our calling (Philippians 1:29). To carry our cross is to lay down all self-wills and pick up God’s will, and where the two clash, what we must choose is His will over our own. Remember, no suffering – no Saviour; no pain – no gain; and no cross – no CROWN!
Have a serene Holy Week as you reflect on the implication of the Cross for your life.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
S.Igein Isemede