On a war memorial in a small country town there are two names that are dear to me. They are the names of my brothers and there is a small cross beside one of the names. The names have been there for a number of years but today, when all our values and ideals are being questioned, perhaps we should take another look at what the symbolic cross stands for.
The cross is a symbol of judgement because when Jesus was about to be sentenced to the cross, he said ‘now is the judgement of this world’. John 12:31. He made it a symbol that judgement had come for the whole world.
Today we are presented with mixed messages, particularly about what Jesus actually stood in judgement against. A few things come to mind and I found seven that are easy to identify so please let me share them with you:
1. Jesus stood in judgement against those who want to destroy the family. When he immortalised the story of the prodigal son, he stood in judgement against those who scorn family life. He demonstrated that the family was the guardian of love, and the protector against degradation and poverty. (See Luke 15:11-24).
2. At the age of 12, he stood in judgement of those who want to destroy parental authority. He reminded his parents that his loyalty was to God but he went home with Mum and Dad and “was subject to them”. He lived with them and worked in the family workshop until the age of 30. (See Luke 2:51).
3. He stood in judgement against those who regarded children as mere economic units. He treated children with respect and affection, and he threw the book at those who wanted to destroy the right of children to associate with him. (See Matthew 19:13-15).
4. He stood in judgement against cruelty – he said which of you would not get even a sheep out of difficulty even on the Sabbath day. (See Matthew 12:11)
5. He stood in judgement against suffering that could be relieved. Read it in the story of the Good Samaritan. (See Luke 10:33-35).
6. He stood in judgement against the forces and philosophies that want to destroy the church. He worshipped every week “as was his custom”. (See Luke 4:16)
7. He stood in judgement against wanton violence when he healed the wound of the one who was arresting him. (See Luke 22:50,51).
Then, on the cross, he prayed for the forgiveness of his enemies. He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Paul said “He made peace through the blood of his cross” and “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself”. 2nd Corinthians 5:19 and Colossians 1:20. Jesus made the cross a symbol of reconciliation as well as judgement.
These are not the values of a society that mocks Jesus. It is only where Christ is honoured that these values are the life-blood of the community and without them, the community disintegrates.
The little cross beside my brother’s name tells me that he stood for both judgement and reconciliation because he valued what Jesus valued.
Elizabeth Price