Without any further description or information, most people could identify what each of these symbols represents. These signs are part of our everyday lives. Our brains have been programmed to recognize them. Some symbols provide us with instructions or warnings, while others elicit feelings of loyalty or dependability or maybe the lack of.
Another highly recognized symbol is the model of the cross. There are many variations with the design, but it’s form is universal. The cross is an image of brutality, severe torture, and pain, but also of great love and sacrifice. We tattoo crosses on our body, wear them on chains around our neck, and affix them to the bumpers of our vehicles. We talk about the power of the cross, the words of the cross, the stations of the cross, and taking up our own cross, but the cross is incomplete on its own.
The cross is a necessary part of the plan, but it is not the end of the story. Yes, it is through Jesus’ death on the cross that our debt has been paid and we can experience the forgiveness of our sins. It is through the brutality of the cross that we get a glimpse of the height and depth of our Savior’s love for us, but without Christ’s resurrection, the cross is meaningless. It is through the resurrection that we are given new life. Jesus conquered the grave, conquered death, conquered the enemy, conquered the past. The resurrection changes everything.
I wonder if part of the reason that we don’t experience the abundant life is because we are stuck in the shadow of the cross and have not moved on to live in the glory of the resurrection. Oh, we sing about it on Easter Sunday and proclaim that He’s Alive and Our God Reigns, but on Easter Monday we retreat to the shadow of our sinful desires, mundane activities, and worldly ways. We go back to what our heads know instead of what our hearts long for. A popular song for the season states that “Every morning is Easter morning from now on! Every day’s Resurrection Day, the past is over and gone!” What an amazing transformation this world would see if we all lived with the awe, excitement, and new life that we sing about on Easter.
If the cross is a symbol of our forgiveness, then Christ’s resurrection and the empty tomb symbolizes our victory. But when was the last time you saw someone wearing an empty tomb necklace? I love the depiction of the cross in our Worship Center. I don’t know the thought process behind the architect’s design, but when I look at the cross, I also se
e the empty tomb behind it and the light of new life radiating outward for all to see.
As you celebrate Easter this year, I pray that you think beyond the popular symbols of eggs and bunny rabbits, and will walk today and everyday in the power of the resurrection. Romans 8:11 “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same spirit living within you. (NLT)
Erin Jacobsma