Christianity is symbolized by the cross, representing the death of Jesus on the cross. The death of Jesus on the cross should be viewed from two perspectives. The first is idolatrous, while the other is a projection of what Jesus sought to convey. In this article, we shall explore both perspectives to help the reader deduce the true significance of the cross. A person obsessed with idolatry may not be aware of its aspect in their involvement with Christianity. Humanity often mistakes idolatry for genuine worship. Jesus revealed the truth in a conversation with a Samaritan woman, uncovering hidden truths unknown to ordinary people.
The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:21-26 NKJV).
As Jesus was a Jew, it was considered taboo for Him to be seen conversing with a Samaritan woman. However, it must be remembered that Jesus could not be constrained by anything in advancing the purpose of His mission. The opportunity arose when He became thirsty, and the woman came with a bucket to fetch water. The woman was also aware that there should not have been any conversation between them, as Jews and Samaritans had nothing in common. Jesus knew this, as it was among the many reasons for which He came to Earth. From that initial point of confusion, Jesus delved deeper into a discussion with the Samaritan woman.
The woman had a bucket to draw water and assist Jesus in His thirsty condition. However, she could not do so due to doctrinal differences between the Jews and the Samaritans. In His physical state, Jesus experienced thirst just as we all do in our physical conditions. She believed the Jews were wrong to insist on worshipping God only in Jerusalem. In this world, people are often divided by ideological or doctrinal differences. Her stance was that the Samaritans were superior to the Jews. Jesus revealed the truth to the woman that most of those in the Jewish community had not yet received.
Like any ordinary human, she was excited but also became sceptical when Jesus spoke of providing her with living waters.“Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Given her physical condition, it is understandable that she could not comprehend what Jesus was discussing. She was in the physical world, while Jesus was speaking from the spiritual realm. However, as a descendant of Abraham, she had an inkling about the promised Messiah and the eventual attainment of God’s Kingdom.
Through her level of understanding Jesus revealed Himself to her: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” This clearly reveals the necessity of abolishing the notion of idolizing the cross in the context of worship principles. The Bible contains no stronger denunciation of idolizing the cross than what Jesus spoke on that Day. We must now examine the second perspective to emphatically establish the significance of the cross.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:21-26 NKJV).
Simon Peter offended Jesus, specifically for attempting to prevent Him from carrying His cross. Going through the cross is the only established method for those who have become aware of the need for true life. The cross signifies denying oneself to follow Christ. The Scripture clearly shows that the cross is not an instrument for idolization, but rather for dedication and commitment to endure it. It symbolizes what a Christian needs to carry to attain salvation. When Jesus enunciated this principle, His disciples may not have understood the significance until they observed Jesus being hauled through it. A true Christian looks at Jesus as the enabler for one to carry his or her own cross.
The cross of Jesus was a public manifestation, intended for ordinary humans to comprehend its significance and what it entailed. The public humiliation Jesus endured was most appalling and unacceptable to any ordinary person. He sought to demonstrate that the cross was a necessary requisite for becoming His follower. Surrendering all to follow Jesus is the call, which can never be acceptable under normal conditions. However, the cross is not for every human but for those choosing to follow Him. The term “sanctification” implies the purification process that Peter highlights as the process of judgment, as all humans need judgment. It is impossible to attain the stage of purity without sanctification through the cross.
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved; Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:15-19 NKJV).
A Christian should not compare the magnitude of their cross to others, as each person’s cross is unique. This is why a Christian cannot serve solely under the instructions of a Bishop or pastor, who has no jurisdiction over that person. The role of a Christian leader is essential only up to the point of baptism, after which the Holy Spirit takes over. It is fallacious to claim control over spiritual matters while being physical. Jesus was clear in instructing His disciples on how to conduct themselves in this life.
“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:8-13 NKJV).
Those who intend to follow Christ are expected to evaluate everything according to His teachings. When teaching this principle, Jesus contrasted it with the traditional customs of the Pharisees. Those customs were similar to what currently prevails, as such leaders project themselves as accomplishing one purpose: “For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (verse 13). This behaviour demonstrates a lack of understanding of worshipping in Spirit and in truth. The apostles’ duty was solely to convey what Jesus had taught them.
Each Christian carries his or her own cross, known only by God. The idea of comparison, as commonly practised in modern Christianity, lacks Scriptural backing. However, it should be borne in mind that contemporary Christians are more privileged than the early disciples after Jesus. We now have the convenience of comparing everything with what Jesus taught, as the written Scriptures are available. The early disciples after Christ did not have that privilege. They only had the Old Testament Scriptures for comparison, whereas we also have the Gospel books to compare with Jesus’ actual words.
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:1-7 NKJV).
Paul reveals that his Corinthian audience had not yet received the Holy Spirit, as they were exhibiting carnal behaviour when captivated by human leaders. He declares that he spoke to them not as spiritual people, indicating that they were not yet spiritually convicted. Paul’s epistles are available, allowing us to evaluate the behaviour of early Christians. However, it is important to appreciate that these epistles need to be contextually evaluated. Paul wrote different letters to different audiences, depending on their level of understanding. The easiest way to evaluate everything is according to the written teachings of Jesus in the gospel books.
True Christianity is demonstrated in the willingness to forsake everything to follow Christ. This process is followed by baptism, a ceremonial avowal that signifies one’s commitment to applying the teachings of the Scriptures. When a person is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they come under divine care. At that point, the individual is akin to Jesus before the crucifixion. They are expected to carry their own cross, answerable to God. This does not mean they will not learn from others. They remain humble and willing to change as new understanding prevails. Such a person continues to grow in grace until separated from the physical body.
The principle of the cross is intended for every human before induction into God’s Kingdom. The righteous ones admitted into God’s Kingdom on Judgment Day will have carried their own crosses, involving caring for the Lord’s brothers, as shown in Matthew 25:32-41. Otherwise, all humans in their physical bodies at the second coming of Jesus will have to contend with the cross before they can be considered for God’s Kingdom. The second coming of Jesus is depicted as dreadful, according to Malachi 4:5. Jesus will rule with a rod of iron, according to Revelation 2:27 and Revelation 19:15. Nothing in Scriptural references portrays Jesus as manifesting gentleness during that time, as He exhibited at His first coming.
This will be the enforcement of a just rule, designed to ensure the establishment of peace among stubborn societies. As Peter revealed, it would be a tough time for nonbelievers caught still alive at Jesus’ second coming (1 Peter 4:15-19 NKJV). Christians currently bearing their own crosses would be assisting Jesus in enforcing the rule of law. During that period, the citizens will be enduring the experiences of their respective crosses. Those caught alive will face the wrath of God, similar to the treatment of the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. This will be the cross borne by those, experiencing Christ’s rule, during the millennium, which is opposed to worldly pleasures.
At the end of the millennium, those uncomfortable with God’s way of life, still unable to appreciate carrying their crosses, will be tempted to revolt. As Satan is released from his prison, they are easily deceived again. In other words, the millennium, depicted as that dreadful Day of the Lord, is a period of judgment for those found still alive at Jesus’ second coming. Human rebellion will manifest after Satan’s release from prison. Their immediate justice will be the lake of fire, where Satan and his demons will also be thrown. What Jesus endured is designed as the only provision for humans to be freed from physical imprisonment.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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