Every religion has its visual symbol which illustrates the values of its significant history or beliefs. The lotus flower, for example, is the particularly associated with Buddhism. Because of its wheel shape is represents the cycle of life and death. Islam is depicted by the crescent moon and star – a symbol of conquest of the Byzantine Empire.
Christianity is then no exception in having a visual symbol. The cross however was not our earliest symbol. Because of the accusations that were hurled against Christians and the persecution they were subjected to they had to avoid flaunting their religion. Thus the cross was initially avoided, not only because of its direct association with Christ, but because of its shameful connotation and association with the worst of criminals. Paintings found in the catacombs are of peacocks (a symbol of morality), doves, or in particular, a fish. Only the initiated would know that the letters in the Greek word "fish" stood for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. The fish probably did not remain the dominant symbol because it took some initiation to understand the connection between a fish and a Christian.
Later in the second century Christians painted biblical themes: Noah's Ark, Abraham killing the ram instead of Isaac, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Jonah being disgorged from the whale, baptisms, shepherds carrying lambs, the raising of Lazarus -- All of these were symbols of redemption while not in and of themselves incriminating. Only the initiated would have been able to discern their full meaning. Often the Chi Rho monogram was popular, often in the form of a cross, sometimes with a lamb standing before it, or with a dove. Chi and Rho are the first two letters of the Greek word Christos, or Christ.
A universally agreed on symbol would obviously need to speak of Jesus, but there was a wide range of possibilities. A
crib or manger, a carpenter's bench, the boat from which he taught, the apron he wore washing the disciples' feet, the stone rolled away from the tomb or the empty tomb itself, a throne signifying his divinity, a dove sent form the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Any of these and many others would have been suitable symbols for Christianity. But instead the symbol became that of the cross. The cross commemorated neither Christ's birth nor his youth, neither his teaching nor his service, neither his resurrection nor his reign nor his gift of the Spirit, but his death, his crucifixion. It
seems from the second century onward, the cross was clearly the primary symbol of Christianity.
Tertullian said this in about 200 AD - "At every step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at the table, when we light lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign, the cross."
Crucifixion seems to have been invented by "barbarians" on the edge of the known world, and taken over from them by both Greeks and Romans. It is probably the most cruel method of execution ever practiced, for it deliberately delayed death until maximum torture had been inflicted. The tortured could suffer for days before dying. Deuteronomy 21:23 says "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse." No distinction was made between the cross
and a tree. So the idea that the Messiah could be hung from a tree was ludicrous.
The fact that the symbol of the cross was chosen and that is has thus endured, can mean only one thing. It means that it was central to the mind and teaching of Christ himself. This is what he intended to do. The cross was central to his mission and life. It wasn't a part or afterthought or tragic ending to an otherwise good ministry. It was the culmination and purpose of his mission.
Jesus, very early in his ministry, begins to predict his death. He tells others to be quiet about it, but none the less, is clear in his mission. (Mark 8:31-32, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:32-34 and in many other places...)
The cross is central to the Christian faith. It is where all of history culminates. The reason the cross became the central symbol of our faith was because the cross was central to the mission and teaching of Jesus.
During this season of Lent we have been paying special attention to the cross. Hopefully we don't go through a Sunday without paying some attention to the cross. But specifically this season we wanted to focus our attention on the
cross, on its meaning in our lives, of the gritty reality that the cross took place and changed everything. It is our symbol; we embrace it and we love it. Because on the cross Jesus took our sin, paid our ransom, justified us, forgave our sins, redeemed us, revealed his glory, and demonstrated the full extent of his love. It is my prayer for us that during this season of Lent we place our lives more firmly at the foot of the cross.
This whole idea was inspired by John Stott's book The Cross of Christ. I hope I didn't quote him in here somewhere and not cite it. I was taking notes on the book for a sermon, in which I gave him credit. I don't see anything which I remember as a direct quote, but that's not saying maybe I didn't quote some of his writings. If you see a direct quote, let me know and I'll be sure to cite it. Thanks.
