It's March and the focus of Soul Care for March is The Cross. As I started writing this two things came to mind. The cross as a symbol and the cross as a way of life.
Something weird came to mind...The Mockingjay, from the Hunger Games series. The Mockingjay came to symbolize freedom, change, a call to rebellion so to speak. Symbols are like that, they mobilize people. They take a lot of really BIG concepts and ideals and roll them into a symbol that pulls people together for a common cause.
The cross is probably one of the best know symbols of Christianity yet at the same time, it's origins are pretty common. Crucifixion on the cross was a common method of death in Jesus's time. It wasn't as if Jesus's death was "unique", at least in regards to method. Furthermore the symbol of a cross can be found throughout history, previous to Jesus's time. In fact the symbol of the cross as used in Christianity didn't come into existence until several centuries after Christ's death. So you may be asking...what does all this mean? What does it matter? In truth, I'm not sure. Let's ponder it a bit.
Why do symbols exists? I would propose that they exist as a means of drawing one in deeper to an understanding of a concept, a belief, that might just be "over your head" otherwise. Jesus came to us in human form to live the human experience. It makes sense to me that his death would be a human death. He wouldn't get some "special" treatment as his final hours drew near. Instead quite the opposite. He was dealt with in death as a common thief might be. The cross connects us to Jesus not at his heavenly level but at his most human. What good would it do to seek out or create a "heavenly" symbol of His death? Who would even be able to relate to that?
I know that the belief is that it is Jesus's death on the cross that is the ultimate gift, a sacrifice for our sins and while I don't discount that....I truly belief that Jesus's life as a man was his ultimate gift to us. Yes He shed His blood for us but that is but the final act. His true gift was his journey through life.
And that brings us to the cross as a way of life. We can simply place our eyes upon the cross, the death of Jesus and his gift to us of eternal life OR we can place our eyes on His life. I'm not saying the first is wrong or that we shouldn't do that. I am simply challenging us to look beyond the final moments on the cross. I have written before about walking the paths of life and what better guide to have than Christ Himself? Open your mind and yourself to more than just the symbolism of the cross. Seek Christ as his journey through life. The cross is but the final act in the greatest story of all time.
Hugs to each of you as we start this journey through the month of March. This week is prayer week so please focus on a better understanding of Jesus's life and what it means for our own.
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