Throughout the world, people universally recognize the cross as the central symbol of Christianity. Within the church, the cross represents God’s eternal love, justice and Jesus Christ. Although this is a widely accepted understanding amongst most Christians, others question its propriety. To explain this reasoning, one must understand the history of Israel prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. At this time, Jerusalem was best known for its involvement in trade, which inspired the Romans to conquer them. However, they had trouble due to Israel’s superior army that defended them exceptionally well. To counter this obstacle, the Romans arranged a plan to attack the small, defenseless, northern town of Nazareth. There, the Romans hung all the …show more content…
This comes across powerfully when we read that “He laid down his life for us,” (1 John 1:16) and also “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 1: 18). This shows how the cross is a logical centerpiece of the religion. Christians believe that Jesus’s death on the cross was one of the central moments in Christianity, the action fundamental to affect the redemption of humanity 's sins. Therefore, the cross is also a common representation of Jesus 's triumph over death. In the ancient church, the cross was used as a victorious symbol, the "often considered" in the battle of humanity against sin. It also serves as a reminder to the Christian community of the pattern of death, victory, and resurrection in their lives, as first demonstrated by …show more content…
For instance, whereas Romanesque crucifixes depicted a Royal crown atop Christ 's head, a large number late medieval specialists utilized a crown of thorns. The crown of thorns, put atop Jesus’s head in the tormant heading up to as much crucifixion, was an instrument utilized by the Roman guards to embarrass Jesus and mock as much asserts for sovereignty. It symbolizes both those physical and emotional pain suffered by Jesus at his death. Additionally, crucifixes throughout this the long run might often depict Jesus 's particular figure likewise limp and bloody. Portrayals such as these eventually led to a preference among many Christians for the symbol of the cross alone, without a representation of Jesus 's body, especially after the Protestant
All comes to show, that Christianity took hold on the ancient world because it was easy, convenient and powerful. Christianity is a strong religion seeming as it still stands
For the world, the cross stands for the “bond of unity”. It reconciles the relationship between the Jew and the Gentile and ultimately, between God and humanity, through the atonement of the cross. In my interpretation of the theology of the cross; the cross metaphorically builds a bridge for humanity to cross the river of the law to reach God. The river, the law, which once hydrated young humanity, now drowns it. Christ’s suffering on that cross builds a restorative bridge for all of humanity.
When we think of the word cross, what usually comes to mind is an upright beam projecting above a shorter cross piece 3. This is the form of the cross which traditional Christian art depicts Jesus dying upon. In fact, the Romans used five different types of crosses for crucifying people. It is unknown which type of the cross Jesus was crucified on.
Christ and the Cross is a false dichotomy that exists in the church today. Many Church leaders today are saying that the Cross is not necessary. They tend to separate the two, but Christians without the Cross is like Christianity without Christ. Which means, there can be no Christianity without the Cross and the Christ of the Cross. Many of them are saying that the Cross should not even been emphasize; that the Cross is a form of idolatry; that the Cross is an inconceivable child abuse; and some of the leaders even have gone to the extreme. However, Christians need to understand the necessity of the Cross for their Salvation. Because, “Through Christ’s death on the cross, those who turn to Him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin.” (1 Peter 2:24)
In “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop, the narrator attempts to understand the relationship between humans and nature and finds herself concluding that they are intertwined due to humans’ underlying need to take away from nature, whether through the act of poetic imagination or through the exploitation and contamination of nature. Bishop’s view of nature changes from one where it is an unknown, mysterious, and fearful presence that is antagonistic, to one that characterizes nature as being resilient when faced against harm and often victimized by people. Mary Oliver’s poem also titled “The Fish” offers a response to Bishop’s idea that people are harming nature, by providing another reason as to why people are harming nature, which is due to how people are unable to view nature as something that exists and goes beyond the purpose of serving human needs and offers a different interpretation of the relationship between man and nature. Oliver believes that nature serves as subsidence for humans, both physically and spiritually. Unlike Bishop who finds peace through understanding her role in nature’s plight and acceptance at the merging between the natural and human worlds, Oliver finds that through the literal act of consuming nature can she obtain a form of empowerment that allows her to become one with nature.
Bell offers a great statement about the redemptive work of Christ viewed through the cross. He argues, “Jesus comes to us in love to renew the friendship/communion that we rejected. Jesus come to us with the offer of friendship with God. It is not violence of the cross that saves us. Rather, it is the love of God expressed in Jesus that saves us.” This argument is also helpful in understanding how Jesus work is redemptive for us and that it is not with the violent means of the cross. Bell presents the Christian faith with a true picture of how Christ work with love redeems humanity, and not the blood that was shed. We do not serve a God, who is seeking after blood like a
Many subjects have been spoken of over the history human beings. For some time it may have a world war, at other times a great recession, in another day it would have been a very fast athlete, at others the final match of Champions League and many more. Yet in all these occurrences that grip the human mind for some time there is no occurrence more spoken than the crucifixion of a man called Jesus Christ (Zugibe 33). His crucifixion has even been a study for the entire lifetime of many people. Institutions have been built primarily for the purpose of studying this crucifixion. Some have said this crucifixion has changed their lives. Others have retorted that it has lifted off their worries. It is widely known and embraced. However, aside from all this, with all the goodness this man Jesus Christ is preached to have, many wonder why he would be killed on a cross.
It was founded in Palestine by the followers of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God. The central teachings of traditional Christianity are that of the Trinity, which encompasses God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prediction of the Messiah, and that his life on earth, the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God’s love for humanity and God’s forgiveness of human sins. Christians also believe that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life. These sacred beliefs originated from the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. In addition, Christians also accept the Old Testament as a scared Scripture. Christianity’s early missionaries spread its teachings in various places, such as: Asia Minor, Alexandria, Greece and Rome. In this present day Christianity missions have remained a major element. Christianity could be defined in several distinctive ways. There are numerous dissimilar forms of worship, many understandings of the role of the structured clergy, and many variations in polity and church organizations within
Early Christian art during the period of Roman persecution was highly circumspect, and innocuous objects—the fish and the dove—were used to symbolize Christ and the Holy Spirit. Later Christian art, however, became replete with iconographic symbols. In particular, many of the saints became associated with specific objects—Saint Peter with two keys, for instance, or Saint Catherine with a broken wheel.
While selflessness is typically an admirable quality to possess, being too selfless will only make matters worse for yourself. Stories of rich men giving away all their money and possessions warn us of the possible consequences of being too kind for our own good. The story behind Christ Bearing the Cross ("North Netherlandish (Utrecht?) Painter | Christ Bearing the Cross." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I.e. The Met Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015) is the story of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. While from a biblical standpoint this was the right thing for Jesus to do, from a purely objective view, Jesus’ selflessness ultimately leads to his death. Jesus was a giving man who did good deeds for complete strangers, because he felt it was his duty. In the painting, he is shown in his final moments, totally ready to accept his death. Again, while this might make sense from a biblical view, Jesus sacrificed his life for little to no reason. His love for other people eventually was what ended him. The Pelican in Her Piety (Unknown. "Pelican in Her Piety." Metmuseum.org. Met Museum, 1400. Web) depicts the love of a mother for her children. The mother pelican is presumed to be unsuccessful in finding food for her children, and they are going hungry. The mother makes the choice to sacrifice her own life and slice her breast in order to feed her children. Just like in Christ Bearing the Cross, the
The cross where Jesus died is the universal symbol of Christianity, with Jesus on the cross and an empty cross which symbolizes the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.
“The word interdisciplinary consists of two parts: inter and disciplinary. The prefix inter means “between, among, in the midst,” or “derived from two or more.” Disciplinary means “of or relating to a particular field of study” or specialization” (Repko, 2011, p. 7). I understand this to be a study that often consists of two or more areas that are being observed and examined. An interdisciplinary study is used to help us put together research by asking and answering questions, address certain issues by viewing a variety of views.
In this report we will deal with Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This report we'll have as bible text the gospel of Matthew 27:32-50, and these verses will be analyzed verse by verse. It's very great to observe that all gospels talk about Jesus' Crucifixion in a larger section than others events from his life. There is a great reason: for Jesus this last part of his work means the finishing God's plan of salvation. Paul says he humbled himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross (Philippians 2:8). So we will observe the following of event as Matthew wrote in his gospel.
Historically, the cross served as being a symbol of death, suffering, and execution. In today's world however, it means much more than that. For Christians, the cross is of an immense importance because of the fact that it provides simplicity, direction and motivation in people's chaotic lives. Most importantly, it is a representation of the affirmation of faith. Jesus was sent to earth to spread the word of God and to die for the sins of the Christian people. Therefore, the symbol of his heroic death, the cross, is something that Christians will continuously praise and hold in high authority.
a symbol of man to a symbol of Jesus Himself in order to show His