What is the meaning of the cross?

Answer

Simply put, the significance of the cross is death. From around the 6th century BC until the 4th century AD, the cross served as an instrument of execution that led to death in the most agonizing and painful manner. During crucifixion, an individual was either tied or nailed to a wooden cross and left to hang until life departed. The process of dying was slow and extremely painful; in fact, the term excruciating literally means “out of crucifying.” Nevertheless, due to Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, the interpretation of the cross today is entirely different.

Within Christianity, the cross symbolizes the convergence of God’s love and His justice. Jesus Christ is identified as the Lamb of God who removes the sin of the world «The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. », (John 1:29). Referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God harks back to the establishment of the Jewish Passover in Exodus 12. The Israelites were instructed to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and apply its blood on the doorposts of their homes. The blood served as a signal for the Angel of Death to “pass over” that household, sparing those protected by the blood. When Jesus approached John for baptism, John recognized Him and proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” «The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. », (John 1:29), thereby revealing Him and God’s purpose for Him to be sacrificed for sin.

One might question why Jesus needed to undergo death in the first place. This is the overarching theme of the Bible—the narrative of redemption. God fashioned the heavens and the earth, and He shaped man and woman in His image, positioning themIn the Garden of Eden, humans were meant to be stewards of the earth. However, due to the temptations of Satan (the serpent), Adam and Eve sinned and fell from God’s grace. Consequently, they passed the curse of sin on to their children, resulting in everyone inheriting their sin and guilt. God the Father sent His one and only Son into the world to take on human flesh and be the Savior of His people. Jesus, born of a virgin, avoided the curse of the fall that affects all other human beings. As the sinless Son of God, He could provide the unblemished sacrifice required by God. God’s justice demanded judgment and punishment for sin; God’s love led Him to send His one and only Son to be the propitiation for sin.

Through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, those who place their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation are assured of eternal life “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”, (John 3:16). Nevertheless, Jesus instructed His followers to take up their cross and follow Him “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”, (Matthew 16:24). The concept of “cross-bearing” has somewhat lost its original significance today. Often, we use “cross-bearing” to refer to an inconvenient or bothersome situation (e.g., “my troubled teen is my cross to bear”). However, we must remember that Jesus calls His disciples to embrace radical self-denial. To a person in the 1st century, the cross symbolized only one thing—death. “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”, (Matthew 16:25). Galatians reinforces this concept of the death of the sinful self and the resurrection to walk in a new life through Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” «I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. », (Galatians 2:20).

In various parts of the world, Christians are facing persecution, sometimes even unto death, for their faith. They understand the significance of bearing their cross and following Jesus in a tangible manner. For those of us who are not experiencing such persecution, our responsibility remains to stay loyal to Christ. Even if we are never required to make the ultimate sacrifice, we should be prepared to do so out of love for the One who redeemed us and sacrificed His life for us.