Saturday, March 22, 2008

EDITORIAL March 16 - 22, 2008

‘Sign of the Cross’

Jesus says to us: “Take your cross and follow me”.

The cross symbolizes our day to day sufferings. Without which, there is no crown for Christians. The cross was used by the Assyrians, Persians, Phoenicians of Carthage, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for punishing criminals. The cross has various symbols but the cross where Jesus was nailed was the Latin or Roman, unequal-limbed cross since according to Mark 15:26, a writing was nailed above the head of the savior.
Jesus Christ was hung on the cross and crucified because the chief priest and the religious teachers envied Him. Everyday, Jesus taught the people of Jerusalem; many listened to His teachings. Thus, authorities planned to put Jesus to death.
When Peter tried to keep Jesus away from the cross, He called Peter “Satan”. So it was clear, Satan was afraid and kept himself away from the cross, as it was through the cross that Jesus destroyed the devil’s kingdom and saved mankind from the slavery of sin and death.
By giving His life on the cross, Jesus removed the barrier between God and Man. The cross reminds us of God’s perfect love for mankind that through the death of His only son Jesus, sins were forgiven.

The Biblical Basis

The sign of the cross proclaims the message of salvation purchase by Lord Jesus, our loving God through the cross. The Bible clearly states: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved is the power of God” (1Cor 1:18)

The Historical Basis

Even before the Bible was formed, the cross became a symbol worn proudly by Christ’s followers. Early Christians kept this spiritual practice to keep Satan away and to save themselves from the power of evil.
We make the sign of the cross on our foreheads, decorate our churches with the cross and administer sacraments with the same sign. The bible teaches us to be proud of it, as the message of the cross is the power of God.
Cyril of Jerusalem wrote in AD 386: “Let us therefore not be ashamed of the cross of Christ, but through another hide it, do openly zeal it upon thy forehead that the devils may behold the royal sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act”.
Ephrem of Syria testified in AD 373: “Make all your actions with the sign of the life giving cross. Do not go out from “the doors of your house till you have signed yourself with the cross. Do not neglect that sign whether in eating and drinking or going to sleep, or in the home or going on a journey. There is no habit to be compared with it. Let it be a protecting wall around your conduct, and teach it to your children that they may earnestly learn the custom”.
The sign of the cross is used to be victorious over satanic attacks as it is through this sign that Jesus made possible the forgiveness of our sins. Christians must use the ‘sign of the cross’ proudly as it terrifies Satan and the Bible proves it.
Let it be remembered that: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have an ever-lasting life.”
Moreover, acquire just enough wealth for “it is easier for an elephant to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven”. /MP

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