THE CROSS - ICHTHUS - NYOBS 72.02

THE CROSS - ICHTHUS

What does the Cross have to do with anything? - The Great Exchange –

First Word

·         I don’t believe that you have to understand everything about Jesus Christ to be saved.  - As a ten year old, I believed in God and His son Jesus and wanted to be a good person; a child of God and I didn’t want to wait any longer, I just wanted to “Join the Church” as they called it back in 1947. - I understood the stories of the Virgin birth, the Cross, the resurrection and being born again, but not so much the deeper significance of WHY.

·         A newborn infant for the most part can do nothing for himself, but nevertheless from his very beginning, he is “A PART OF THE FAMILY” where he can GROW.

·         I seem to grasp that a baby could be born to a girl who was not married and someone who was dead could come back to life, but what bothered me was WHY a cross; a piece of wood was a place where Christians would look towards for the hope and the promise of living with God for eternity.

·         This study is the significance of the Cross; THE WHY.

Early Symbols

·         The Egyptians Ankh was a pagan symbol for “eternal life”. – It was in the form of a “T” with a loop handle on the top. - The Coptic Christian Church adopted the Ankh calling it the “crux ansata”, the cross with a handle.  – The Ankh also had another meaning; “mirror”; later we find the loop portion was made into a “hand mirror” which then utilized the “T” as a handle.

·         There were various early Christian symbols such as the lyre, fish and dove, the shepherd and the lamb and of course the Cross.

·         God had also providentially put the shape of the cross into an anchor with its crossbar, the mast of a ship, into tools such as an Ax or a plow – Christians would often pray with their arms outstretched forming a cross.

·         The Greek word for fish “ICHTHUS” was made into an acronym meaning “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.  – Christians would often secretly make the sign of the fish with two opposite intersecting “crescents” as a password to distinguish each other as friend or foe or to mark a place to meet for worship; usually in a tomb. – Sometimes one person would casually start the upper crescent and the other would finish it with the reverse bottom.

·         About 400 years after the death of Christ the fish gave way to the symbol of the Cross, but oddly enough, about 1500 years after that, the fish has made its comeback in the form of a bumper sticker and jewelry.  – I like it because people ask, “What is that?” and it gives me an opportunity to talk about Jesus. – Sometimes the fish body is empty and other times it contains the word ICHTHUS.

·         That has given birth to FISH WARS where non-believers can have a fish with the word DARWIN in the body with four little legs under it; and even that has given way to one with EVOLVE in the body; it’s a Shark fish that eats all the Jesus Fish.

·         The Cross has evolved into fuzzy things we hang on our rear view mirror, decals for our bumpers, lucky charms for our bracelets and sometimes we decorate our gardens with it and we can even get it on T shirts as well as buy it covered in chocolate; it is a manufacturers and merchandisers profane money making dream.

Mark 1:17 - I will make you to become fishers of men
¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become FISHERS of MEN.” (ESV)

Crucifixion

• Webster – Crucify – to put to death by nailing or binding to a cross and leaving to die of exposure – to be very cruel – to torment.

·         From the 6^th century BC to the 4^th century AD the cross was an instrument for the most torturous and excruciating painful method that could be administered that would painfully and slowly lead to death. (Hence the term excruciating, literally "out of crucifying") – It was gruesome, humiliating, and public.  Crucifixion methods varied considerably with location and time period.

·         In the time of Christ, it was the Romans who used crucifixion on the Cross as a method of capital punishment.  ONE because it was torture and a horrific death, and TWO because it was humiliating and served as a warning to others who were passing by on the public road.

• Roman crucifixion included nailing the condemned to the CROSS and also tying with ropes to support the weight. - Jesus shows his disciples the hard evidence of the holes in his hands and tells them to quit doubting.  Technically, the nails were put into the wrist; the reference to hands would include the wrist as well. – Archeologist have uncovered remains with nails in their feet and wrist.
• Note: the KJV Bible does not directly say that nails were used, but later translations such as the New Living Translation and the Message Bible interpret the word “crucified” to include nails because of the Roman custom and Jesus showing the nail prints in his hands to (doubting) Thomas. – Jesus said, BLESSED are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

John 20:24-25 – Place my finger in the mark of the nails
²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him
²⁵ “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his HANDS THE MARK OF THE NAILS, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, & place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

John 20:27 – Put your fingers here in my hands and believe
²⁷ Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see MY HANDS; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but BELIEVE.” (ESV)

Psalm 22:16 - They have pierced my hands and feet
¹⁶ For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— (ESV)

John 20:29 – Blessed; they that have not seen, and yet believed
²⁹ Jesus saith unto him, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: BLESSED are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Construction

·         The Greek and Latin words corresponding to "crucifixion" applied to many different forms of painful execution: impaling on a stake into their private parts; picture a sharp pole impaled up the buttocks into the torso of the body – Then there was the simple affixing to a tree, or affixing to an upright pole and then there was the combination of affixing the person to an upright pole and a crossbeam.  Some have the condemned affixed with their head down to the ground while others stretch out their arms above their head on the gibbet which was only one vertical stake, called in Latin “crux simplex”.

·         The Church of the Great God believes that pagans used the cross as a religious symbol before the time of Christ.  Although this is true, there is no evidence that Christians intentionally borrowed the cross from any cultic pagan religion.  Two intersecting lines are simple and are very common throughout all of history. – You can see it in a plow, an anchor and a sail mast. – The Christian Cross is a “distinct feature” of Christian art.

·         The Jehovah Witnesses reject the notion that Jesus was crucified on a cross in favor of an upright pale or stake using Paul’s expression of Jesus dying “on a tree” as their defense.

·         They further point out that for the first 300 years after the death of Christ that there is no evidence of Christians utilized the cross in worship. - It was when the PAGAN Emperor Constantine became a convert to the faith that the cross was promoted as a Christian symbol. - JW literature states that “apparently the cross was used to make it easier for pagans to accept Christianity”.

·         Therefore JW believe that True Christians do not use the Cross in worship because it is of pagan origin and linked with nature worship and pagan sex rites. –– HOWEVER ––

·         Most historians believe that the cross was most likely an upright vertical beam that was already set in the ground at the place of execution.   It was already notched on the top to accept a “cross beam” that the condemned would be tied to.  It would then be hoisted up and dropped securely onto the fitted notch which would then formed a “T” shape.

·         In some cases, the condemned was forced to carry the crossbeam to the place of execution. A whole cross would weigh well over 300 pounds, but the crossbeam would not be quite as burdensome, varying in weight between 40 to a 100 pounds. – Wikipedia -

• Normally only the horizontal crossbeam of the Roman cross was carried strapped across the shoulders. – We don’t know if it was this beam or the whole cross that Jesus labored and struggled under.  NYOBS 18.18 – THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Galatians 3:13 – JW - Not a Cross, it was a tree
¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is HANGED ON A TREE”—

(ESV)

Deuteronomy 21:22 – JW - Hang on a tree, not a cross
²²And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you HANG HIM on a TREE,

(ESV)

The Cross Beam

• Jewish tradition has it that Jesus stumbled under the weight of the cross, and as some suggests, a black Jew from an old Greek settlement on the coast of North Africa, named Simon from Cyrene, was forced to carry the cross for Jesus. – This was not done out of compassion for Jesus; but was done to expedite the process. – Get’er done.
• It is thought that Simon was already a disciple and that they selected him to bear the cross as a reprisal; to set an example to others who might be thinking about discipleship. - To Simon, this troublesome unwieldy load of the cross came out of nowhere, but now Simon’s name will be remembered and honored wherever the Gospel is preached as a memorial.
• The story is not only about Simon and the cross he had NO CHOICE to carry, but it’s also about US; except we have a CHOICE to accept or reject the cross. – Life is Choice driven -

Luke 23:26 - Jesus stumbles and Simon carries the cross

26 They seized Simon from Cyrene, and put THE CROSS on him and MADE HIM carry it behind Jesus. (ESV)

The Sign

·         There were other shapes or forms of the pole that were in the shape of an X or a Y usually with a SIGN with an inscription over the individuals left shoulder identifying their name and their crime.

·         Pilate placed a sign in three languages; Aramaic, Latin and Greek above the head of Jesus for the crime of “claiming to be the King of the Jews”; ironically, this was not a “crime” for which Jesus was crucified, but for an absolutely true statement that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

·         INRI represents the acronym representing Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum which is the Latin inscription, “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”.  (Note: Latin uses “I” instead of the English “J” and “V” instead of the English “U”)

·         Placing a sign above the head of Jesus on a “T” beam would make it resemble the shape of the cross as we know it today.

John 19:19-20 Pilate makes a sign in three languages

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and FASTENED TO THE CROSS. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. NIV

John 19:21-22 – Don’t write King of the Jews
²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘THIS MAN SAID, I am King of the Jews.’”
²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (ESV)

The Law

• The reason the Cross is a pivotal point in the life of the believer is because of the Law.
• The Law says anyone who hangs on a tree is under the curse of God – Jesus who knew no sin, took our sins, removing the curse of death from us; fulfilling scripture. - Hold that thought

Galatians 3:13 - Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree
¹³Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO IS HANGED ON A TREE”— (ESV)

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 – Man hanged on a tree is cursed by God
²² And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you HANG HIM ON A TREE,
²³ his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for A HANGED MAN IS CURSED BY GOD. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. (ESV)

The Great Exchange

• Jesus is led to a place just outside the city called Golgotha which means “the place of the skull”. The most common conjecture for the name Golgotha is because of the skull like appearance of the rock formation on the hill; it literally looked like a skull. This place overlooked a public highway.

·         Interestingly, there were already three crosses prepared for some rebels, which included an insurrectionist named Barabbas.

·         Barabbas comes on the scene as a deliverer of the Hebrew people from the oppression of Rome and was a favorite of the silent majority. - He had been arrested and charged with homicidal political terrorism; being a notorious revolutionary, an insurrectionist as well as being a bandit; a robber and a murderer.  – You could say he had a few flaws in his character.  – NYOBS 58.02 – THE BARABBAS CONSPIRACY -

·         Many think that the Zealot Barabbas was also named “Jesus” which was a common name, and to make sure that Pilate did not misunderstand which Jesus they were talking about”, they used the word “Bar-abbas” so as to not be confused with the other Jesus from Nazareth. - Bar means SON and Abba means FATHER; he was probably the son of a famous Rabi. - These thoughts arise because documented in some early 9^th century manuscripts and the Codex O, the rendering of his full name is written as “Jesus Barabbas” as found in Matthew 27:16-17.

·         Barabbas was the son of the “Father” – His path was to overthrow Rome with the sword.

·         Jesus was also known as the Son of the Father - His path was peace and suffering which did not attract the masses as Barabbas did. - The Pharisees tried to get Jesus connected with this Zealot Resistance Movement by asking him the question; “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar”? – Those Pharisees were tricksters. -

·         Jesus had been on the scene now for about 3 years and was also considered a deliverer of the Hebrew people from the power of Rome.

• Did you notice that we have TWO men named Jesus; TWO “Sons of the Father” – Both with a path for deliverance of Israel. - TWO paths; one of Peace and the other of the sword. - One was a Sinner and the other One was sinless. – There are still TWO paths in life… CHOICE
• THE GREAT EXCHANGE - Jesus took our sinful place on the cross & paid the price for our life.

Mark 15:7 – Barabbas a REBEL; was in prison - Sinner
⁷ And among the REBELS in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. (ESV)

Matthew 27:16 - Barabbas a NOTORIOUS prisoner - Sinner
¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner, called BARABBAS. (ESV)

Luke 23:19 – Barabbas an INSURRECTIONIST - Sinner
¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (ESV)

Acts 3:14 - Barabbas was a MURDERER - Sinner
¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (ESV)

John 18:40 – Barabbas was a ROBBER - Sinner
⁴⁰ They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. (ESV)

Luke 23:4 – Jesus - SINLESS – No fault was found
⁴ Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. (KJV)

Mark 12:13-15 – The Trick – Pay taxes or not – Zealot?

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said,

14 "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? - Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to TRAP ME?"

The Death

·         You would think that death by crucifixion would be from the blood loss from the beatings and the piercing of the hands and feet, but it was not.  Death came from suffocation.

·         The condemned person’s arms would be elevated and tied higher than their head and sometimes draped and tied over the back of the cross beam making it extremely hard to breath, causing them to push with the feet and pull up with the arms for each breath accompanied with excruciating  pain from the nails in both the hands and feet.

·         Death came from lack of air, suffocation; and if by strength their life was being prolonging, then they would break their legs so they could not push up to breath.

·         This kind of changes our picture of the crosses that we observe today.  – Some crosses depict Jesus still nailed to the cross, but as believers we know that “it is finished”, He is no longer on the cross.  The next time you buy a cross; get one that is “empty”.

HE IS NOT HERE, HE HAS RISEN.

Matthew 28:6 - He is not here, for he has risen
⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (ESV)

The Why

·         In the Old Testament sins were “atoned for” through REPEATED animal sacrifices, the blood of spotless unblemished animals temporarily covered the sin, but did not remove it. – This atonement was a SHADOW of the true form of the one that was to come.

·         In the New Testament the cross comes into view as the pivotal point in history, the signature symbol where the perfect sacrifice was made when Jesus’s blood was shed on the cross for a  “ONCE-AND-FOR- ALL” sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins; past, present  and future.

·         Christ born of a virgin who knew no sin was made to become sin. - He was the unblemished spotless sacrificial Lamb that God requires; He chose to endure the shame of the cross.

·         Propitiation is a word that we really don’t use that much; it is Christ's sacrifice for SIN that provided the reconciliation of BELIEVERS to God; hence the removal of God's WRATH: it is through propitiation that LOVE trumped God’s anger toward SIN, abolishing it. – The victory of death was NOT for all mankind, if so all mankind would be saved.  It was victory over death for the Believer; not the Make-believer.

·         The cross is the place where Satan is forever defeated, it is a place of victory, a place where sin no longer has dominion over us. – Our flesh with its passions and desires has also been crucified with Christ on the cross.

·         That brings us up to “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME” which has lost some of its original meaning. – To some this brings on thoughts of perhaps an inconvenience or of a bothersome circumstance. - Billy Graham said those words were like saying; “bring your electric chair with you”.  For the Jews it would be “take up the gas chamber”.  - Jesus had in mind that the road of the cross would probably lead to death. – Grabbing hold of the cross still means death in many parts of the world.  Today Christians are being beheaded by Muslims for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:1-2 – Animals sacrifices were a shadow of Christ
¹ For since the law has but a SHADOW of the good things to come instead of THE TRUE FORM of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? (ESV)
Hebrews 10:3-9 – It is impossible for animals to take away sin

³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
⁴ For IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
⁵ Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
⁶ in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),
⁹ then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.

Hebrews 10:10-11 - We are sanctified through Christ’s body
¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.
¹¹ And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:12-14 – Christ sacrifice once and for all time
¹² But when CHRIST HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
¹³ waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
¹⁴ For BY A SINGLE OFFERING he has PERFECTED for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made His Son to be sin who knew no sin
²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. (ESV)

Romans 6:14 – The Cross is where sin has no dominion over us
¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

Galatians 5:24 - The Cross has crucified our flesh also
²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its PASSIONS and DESIRES. (ESV)

Matthew 20:28 – The plan for Jesus to give His life for many
²⁸ even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Not for all, but for many as would believe)  (ESV)

Luke 9:23-24 – Take up your cross daily, perhaps lose your life
²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and follow me.
²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever LOSES HIS LIFE for my sake will save it. (ESV)

Last Thoughts

·         The dainty golden cross hung around your neck on a golden fine chain is more than jewelry, it is a symbol of what Jesus did for us. - Charles Stanley said; “It is the consciousness of the debt we owe God and the willingness to LIVE or DIE for Him”.  – We are to present our bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.

·         Paul says to Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. – The cross is a reminder of the greatest sacrifice LOVE has ever made.

·         When I see a Cross, I picture myself, because I should have been up there; Jesus took my place even before I was ever born. – It’s a pardon; a reprieve from death for those who do not deserve it. – While we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us.  

·         THE CROSS is followed by the Resurrection.  The Cross is symbolic of DEATH and LIFE, it can be your END or your BEGINNING … it’s up to you… It’s never too late; the thief on the cross made a decision TO BELIEVE in his last hour and was saved… LIFE IS CHOICE DRIVEN

Romans 12:1 - Present your bodies as a living sacrifice
¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

(ESV)

James 1:2-3 – Count the trials and testing as Joy
² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (ESV)

Hebrews 12:2 – Jesus endured the cross and it shame for us
² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the SHAME, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

Romans 5:8 - While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

Luke 23:39-43 – Remember me, I believe – It’s NOT too late
³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, TODAY you will be with me in Paradise.”

(ESV)

John 1:29 - BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD
²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (ESV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney