Confronted by the Cross
Rick White
Matthew 27:27- 46
Introduction: As symbols go, the golden arches of MacDonald's and the Shell Oil Company logo are more recognizable than the Christian cross, according to a survey of people in Australia, Germany, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The most widely recognized symbol in these six countries was the five linked rings of the Olympic Games, which was identified by 92% of respondents. In contrast, 88% identified the MacDonald's symbol and Shell's seashell logo. Only 54% identified the cross as symbolic of Christianity. ( --Baptists Today, Sep 21, 1995)
Many people within our culture wear the cross as a piece of jewelry. Just before leaving home today I noticed several different styles of "cross jewelry". Some people wear it as an expression of faith. Others wear it simply as a matter of taste or fashion. It is important to remember that in its day it was an instrument of death. For us it would be paramount to wearing an electric chair.
CROSS, CRUCIFIXION: The method the Romans used to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death of self to the world (Mark 8:34).
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT: Originally a cross was a wooden pointed stake used to build a wall or to erect fortifications around a town. Beginning with the Assyrians and Persians, it began to be used to display the heads of captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city. Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself. The Greeks and Romans at first reserved the punishment only for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens. By the ...
Rick White
Matthew 27:27- 46
Introduction: As symbols go, the golden arches of MacDonald's and the Shell Oil Company logo are more recognizable than the Christian cross, according to a survey of people in Australia, Germany, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The most widely recognized symbol in these six countries was the five linked rings of the Olympic Games, which was identified by 92% of respondents. In contrast, 88% identified the MacDonald's symbol and Shell's seashell logo. Only 54% identified the cross as symbolic of Christianity. ( --Baptists Today, Sep 21, 1995)
Many people within our culture wear the cross as a piece of jewelry. Just before leaving home today I noticed several different styles of "cross jewelry". Some people wear it as an expression of faith. Others wear it simply as a matter of taste or fashion. It is important to remember that in its day it was an instrument of death. For us it would be paramount to wearing an electric chair.
CROSS, CRUCIFIXION: The method the Romans used to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death of self to the world (Mark 8:34).
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT: Originally a cross was a wooden pointed stake used to build a wall or to erect fortifications around a town. Beginning with the Assyrians and Persians, it began to be used to display the heads of captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city. Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself. The Greeks and Romans at first reserved the punishment only for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens. By the ...
There are 8047 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
