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4D. Jesus' Cross as a Powerful Sacrament 
The cross is an outward sign of an inward act of God. Jesus' bloody death on the cross is one man's supreme sacrifice for friends over many generations. Everywhere, and in every age, on turning their hearts to Jesus, people arise from their knees cleansed because of what happened many centuries before. Forgiveness and peace flow from the crossroads of time in AD 33 to wash over the believer in whatever era he or she may be.
The Cross as an outward sign
How can the blood of Jesus, crucified so long ago, be relevant to anyone today? As Jesus is nailed on the cross, he groans, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(16). In that eternal instant, Jesus knows the awful agony of separation from his heavenly Father as he bears our sins. Jesus' cross stands as the ageless symbol of the curse on all sin and the Saviour who bears that burden in our place. In Revelation, we read that Jesus "has freed us from our sins by his blood"(17). By his sacrificial work he "has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father"(18). He is God's faithful witness who represents his people. We only know God because of him.
The Cross is Enshrined in Holy Communion
The memory of the cross is enshrined in Holy Communion. Paul tells his fellow Christians, "For whenever you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes"(19). The connections between the bread, wine and Christ's sacrificial death are indelible. No service of The Lord's Supper bears any authenticity without being tied back to the Crucifixion. Centuries before Christ died, the cross was already a well-known symbol throughout the ancient world. The Egyptians called it a "cabob" after a T-shaped instrument they used to measure the rise of the Nile. As early as 1225 B.C., Greek worshippers offered their god Bacchus cakes of flour with the sign of a cross imprinted on them(20). When Rome comes to power, the practice of nailing their worst criminals on a cross has its beginning. It is not until Jesus is crucified that the cross takes on a greater and blessed significance.
The Cross as a Golden Opportunity
The cross marks out a potential treasure, a golden opportunity for a life-changing experience. It is the marker over the door into the Mystical Body. The cross, though familiar, is vital to our understanding of Jesus and is the place where we begin to follow him.
Questions for Discussion
1. How is the Christian different from the non-Christian?
Notes
(16) Matthew 27.46. (17) Revelation 1.5. (18) Revelation 1.6. (19) 1 Corinthians 11.26. (20) New Bible Dictionary.
"We are living members of his mystical body"
