The Cross can Be defined as the use of an upright stake as an instrument of torture and execution attained particular significance as the culmination of Christ’s persecution and thus as a symbol of his atonement for mankind. We are told that Crucifixion was first attested among the Persians (cf. Herodotus Hist. i.128.2; iii.132.2,159.1), perhaps derived from the Assyrian practice of impalement. It was later employed by the Greeks, especially Alexander the Great, and by the Carthaginians, from whom the Romans adapted the practice as a punishment for slaves and non-citizens, and occasionally for citizens guilty of treason.
Although in the Old Testament the corpses of blasphemers or idolaters punished by stoning might be hanged “on a tree” as further humiliation (Deut. 21:23), history assures us that actual crucifixion was not introduced in Palestine until Hellenistic times. The Seleucid Antiochus IV Epiphanes crucified those Jews who would not accept hellenization (Josephus Ant. xii.240–41; cf. 1 Macc. 1:44–50), and the Hasmonean Alexander Jannaeus thus executed eight hundred Pharisean rebels of the town of Bethome (Josephus BJ i.4.6; Ant. xiii.14.2–3). It was, we’re told, the crucifixion of some 3,600 Jews which precipitated the Jewish revolt (A.D. 66; BJ ii.14.9). Many Jews and Christians were martyred in this fashion until the practice was abolished by Constantine ca. 337 in deference to Christian belief concerning Christ’s death.
Originally merely a stake on which the victim was tied or impaled, by Roman times the cross featured a horizontal beam, placed either at the top of the vertical shaft (in the form of the Greek letter tau; St. Anthony’s cross) or slightly below the top (the traditional Latin cross). The later “Greek” cross comprised vertical and horizontal bars of equal length; the X-shaped St. Andrew’s cross also was employed later in Roman times.
Judging from first-century A.D. remains from a tomb near Jerusalem, it appears that the victim’s feet were pierced with a single nail which was then driven into a small olivewood board (to keep the feet together) but not into the upright shaft itself. The forearms were nailed to the horizontal bar. A small horizontal board was affixed to the cross at buttocks height to help support the body and prevent collapse, thereby prolonging the suffering. One might agonize on the cross for several days before dying, apparently of suffocation as the body sagged and caused constriction of the diaphragm making hard to breathe. Thirst was intense and the weight of the body produced inexorable pain; victims were tormented by high fever and convulsions which racked their entire body. Occasionally the executioners prompted death by breaking the victim’s bones.
As further humiliation for the victim and as a deterrent to potential offenders, the person condemned to crucifixion was first flogged, then ordered to carry the horizontal crossbeam to the place of execution, where it was hoisted onto the vertical pole. Accordingly, the Scriptures tell us that Jesus carried his own crossbeam (John 19:17), though he was later relieved of that burden, being unable to continue, by Simon of Cyrene (Matt. 27:32, Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26).
The indignity of the crucifixion, for both the means of punishment (cf. Gal. 3:13) and the crimes with which it was associated, was considered contemptuous and utter “folly” (1 Cor. 1:17–18) especially to entered into deliberately, contrasting intensely with the significance of Christ’s death as atonement for all mankind (e.g., Eph. 2:16; Col. 2:14). The suffering of the cross is cited to symbolize the self-denial which Jesus’ followers must accept — their willingness to renounce their own needs and desires (Matt. 10:38 par. Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), even one’s “old self” (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20).[1]
Jesus said:
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39)
The cross thus becomes the pattern, the type if you will of the life that the believer must lead in service for Christ. This is not an optional matter for Christ said:
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:27)
The “does not…” and “cannot…” paradigm is both quite severe and quite definite. It leaves little room for interpretation. If we do not take up that cross, we cannot call ourselves Christ’s disciples. Lest we think that this was the only place that Jesus said this kind thing, we ought to disabuse ourselves of that opinion:
Then Jesus said to His disciples,
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)
And there is this extend, familiar passage in Mark 8:34-38 as well:
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (cp. Luke 9:23-26)
Do you remember the words of Jesus to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:19-21?
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The young man was sad because he was unwilling to make the sacrifice necessary, he was not willing to “take up his cross” and to follow after Christ.
This was a central theme of the ministry of the Apostles and especially of Paul. He told the Corinthians right off the bat in 1 Corinthians 1:17:
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Note his warning if they did not heed what he said and embrace the truth of the Cross of Christ by grace through faith. It made Christ’s death of no effect! That message is foolishness to those who are perishing. It is NOT just the message of Christ on His cross that is foolishness – it is the message of believers taking up their cross! If we refuse that message – we make Christ’s cross of no effect!
Paul told the Galatians in Galatians 5:11:
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
This is only an extension of what he told the Corinthians. If we do not take up the cross, the kind of grace and the message the Jesus preached, we cease to preach the message of God. The reverse of that is true as well. If we are not “offending” the unredeemed by our message in the fashion that Jesus offended, then we are not preaching His, or Paul’s message.
All of this was so true and so significant, and the temptation to address of things and be seduced into other topics was so beguiling that Paul was careful not to fall prey to it:
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Paul made it a point and a priority to see to it that nothing, NOTHING diverted his attention from the things of God. He understood that God has many enemies in the world. Not just Satan, but many among men. This is a startling revelation to many people. But not to Paul. He knew and he kept it at the front of his mind every day. He said in Philippians 3:18:
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
They are the enemies of God and thus they are the enemies of the cross. Note, however, the middle phrase in that statement, for it echoes the heart of God. “… and now tell you with weeping…”. Oh the horror of that statement even for the believer! Does God take any joy in that there are enemies of His and that they oppose the Gospel – of course not! Men are what men are. They are unredeemed, unrepentant, and irreconcilable to God. They have no desire to be what God wants them to be. They are born enemies to God, haters of righteousness and with not only desire to submit to God, but with a burning desire not only to rebel, but with every desire to overthrown Him! They echo Satan’s cry against God in Isaiah 7:13-14:
For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
It is this cross that we are called to preach and to bear good witness to. It is this message that we are commanded to carry to all men everywhere. And it is this Gospel and this Gospel alone that save men’s souls.
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
_____________________________________________________
[1] Myers, A. C. (1987). This entire section is taken from The Eerdmans Bible dictionary. Rev., augm. translation of: Bijbelse encyclopedie. Rev. ed. 1975. (246). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.
No comments:
Post a Comment