by Douglas Gross

Created on: October 12, 2008

The cross, or crucifix, came to be a symbol after Christ died at the hands of Romans. If any one of the twelve apostles were alive today, they might be confused by the symbol of the cross hung around the neck of a Christian. By way of comparison, it would be like wearing a symbol of an electric chair around your neck. Yet, it represents the fact that there is no sacrifice too great for God. He would send His only begotten son to die for us by coming to live and preach to an otherwise evil world. It is only by the presence of Christ that the world exists today. Christ is the manifestation of salvation.

The use of the cross for crucifixion by the Romans was not just two lengths of wood made to hang someone upon. The Romans knew very well the religious history behind the cross. Their interests were entirely Imperialist and secular. The cross as a religious symbol has a long history. There is the Christian cross, the Ankh cross, the Coptic Ankh cross, the Sun cross, the High cross, the Coptic cross, the Canterbury cross, the Eastern cross, Saint Brigid's cross, the Lorraine cross, the Marian cross, the Nordic cross, etc. The cross is as old as the circle.

We Christians regard the cross as a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice of one son of God for the sake of our sins. He did not have to die on a cross, but his message was one of spirituality, not conquest. He had all the power to take the world by the reins, but he chose instead to make himself a savior. Dying for all sins, he gave himself up to be executed for our sake. His interest was our spirituality, not himself or this world. There is no other symbol that bears the same level of emotion or passion as that of the crucifix, because of what it means for all the world of all people.

Jesus knew he would die on the cross, just as many others who came claiming to be the messiah knew. Many others died for the same reasons Christ did. Many others claimed to be the Christ, but only one messiah survived history. He survived because of his message of forgiveness for our sins in a sinful world. There was great division after the one Christ died. Many factions of Christianity evolved, but from them came the churches today we can acknowledge as that of a man, who was God, and was promised to come to us by the prophets.

If Christ had lived in modern times, what would his fate have been? Would he have been locked up for life, never meeting death? Most likely so in the US, but not likely so in the Middle East, where he made his appearance in the past. What sort of symbol would represent his death if he had come and been killed today?

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