The Cross Still Matters

I watched a program the other evening which speculated about the form of cross on which Jesus of Nazareth may have been crucified. When we think "cruciform" it is probably the vertical upright and the horizontal cross piece often called the Latin cross.  The many devotional images created through the centuries show Jesus with his hands pierced by nails, attached to the cross piece. Often painting depict his feet affixed with one spike on the upright post.

The documentary suggested that the cross on which Jesus died may have been "X" shaped rather than what we have long assumed. Because trees were small in Palestine, and so were people, the two members would not have been longer than two metres. The nails would have been driven through Jesus' wrists after his forearms had been wrapped over the wooden stakes, attaching him from behind. Obviously each foot would have been attached by a different nail.

There is a cross in this shape, called the St. Andrew's Cross, because it was thought to be the form of crucifixion for -- you guessed it -- St. Andrew. Rarely is Jesus portrayed being put to death on this sort of cross and the image above is of Andrew's crucifixion.

The Romans were actually inventive in their forms of execution and both styles of cross were used. What we do know is that this was an agonizing, brutal form of death. Jesus suffered and died as an innocent man, regardless of what we may believe about his mission and divinity. For many millions of Christians the crucifixion is God's powerful identification with us in the person of Jesus, the Christ. Through this forgiving, loving moment in human history death is both real and defeated.

I really don't care what form the cross took, although I find the historical and archeological stuff interesting. I have actually come to the conclusion that the form of execution is not what is important. It is the life-changing implications of death and resurrection which matter to me.

What are your thoughts? Does it matter to you the form of the cross?

Does Pickering need an airport? I muse about this today on my Groundling blog

http://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.ca/2013/06/circling-for-unwanted-landing.html