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Two Crosses of Christianity

What is the cross? In antiquity crucifixion didn't have the cross as we know it. It was basically a stake for impalement. Thieves and traitors were sometimes impaled--just stuck on a point--and left hanging outside the walls of cities. It always brought about condemnation, defilement, rejection and humiliation--a true despising of those that were crucified. In later history the cross member was added. Historically different types of crosses were used, but crucifixion became much more recognized in the time of the Romans. Of course, we see that Jesus was crucified with the two thieves, common criminals to be mocked. In the days of Nero and others Roman leaders, the Christians were impaled, incarcerated, and used as human torches outside of Rome. The cross wasn't a symbol as we made it today where it is cherished and proudly worn around the neck as the sign of being a Christian. The Catholics recognize this Man still hanging on the cross. In actuality we know He is no longer hanging on a cross. He is not in a tomb, praise God; He is risen, the Scripture tells us.

Practically what is the cross to you and me? How is it that you and I can relate to the cross? It is supposed to be a boasting. Some people are ashamed, Paul said, to identify with the cross. But for us as believers who look to walk in lives of victory we are to embrace the cross. Before we can embrace it, we need to know what it is and what is involved with identifying with the cross of Jesus Christ. We sing this song the "Old Rugged Cross"--"On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame." The song writer goes on to say, "How I love that old cross." Do we really? We are thankful for what Jesus did on the cross. We are glad that He went and died. But biblical Christianity is not about one cross but about many crosses, because one cross would not have been sufficient. You can get into trouble if you make that statement.

"What do you mean? The death of Jesus wasn't sufficient?"

It was sufficient to appease God. It wasn't sufficient to finish the work in you, because there is a personal cross that each one of us has to bear. "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" (Gal. 2:20).

We sing songs and weep over the cross of Jesus, but what about our personal cross? What about the personal daily choice of dying? Jesus died once to enable you and me to die daily. If you try to save your life, the Lord said you are going to lose it (Luke 9:24). Embracing the cross is about finding ways to die to our self more effectively, more consistently, more completely. Yet we are living in a society when everything around us projects the opposite--comfort, ease and self-indulgence. But our lives are involved in a kingdom of denial.

One of the problems we get into is asceticism, self-denial and works. We begin to become self-righteous because we have denied ourselves more than the guy next to us. We pridefully boast in that, and it is availing us nothing. Self-denial has nothing to do with meritorious benefit through works. But self-denial has do with preparation, discipline, training of subordination, and recognition of the greater One through an obedience of living separate and rejecting the world system and the kingdom of darkness.

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