What sort of image, I wonder, would a PR company come up with if they were asked to design one that best represents the Christian faith? Chief among them, I suspect, might be an empty tomb, or perhaps a picture of Jesus seated on a heavenly throne, gazing down on the world from on high. Something like that, anyway. What almost certainly wouldn’t feature in any rep’s thinking would be the symbol that has come to be instantly associated with the gospel, the Church and the heart of the Christian message: that, of course, of the cross. To some it seems counterintuitive that something associated with suffering, degradation, death and apparent defeat could ever be countenanced as a defining symbol, and yet it is those very facets that led to its adoption, for central to the good news is the conviction that God, through his Son, willingly endured such things for our sakes, in so doing turning defeat into victory and death into life. That astonishing truth, and equally astonishing symbol, is explored further in this session from my book A Most Amazing Man (Year C), reproduced in non-Lectionary form in A Man Like No Other 1.
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‘Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ John 12:31–33
The meditation of a priest listening to Jesus
What was he on about: ‘the Son of Man must be lifted up’?
Listen, we know our Scriptures,
and if Jesus had understood them half as well
he’d have avoided such a howler,
for the Son of Man will come down,
not go up!
He’s to descend from on high,
sent to defeat our enemies,
take up his throne
and establish God’s kingdom.
So what Jesus had in mind, heaven only knows!
It wasn’t his only mistake, either,
for apparently he believed he was that promised one,
the answer to all our prayers,
bringing life and light to the world.
Well, we soon put a stop to that,
carting him off before Pilate,
who laid not just such talk to rest
but Jesus as well.
Funnily enough though, he was lifted up in a way:
nailed to a cross,
and, more strange still,
his followers claim it was part of his plan,
his way of saving us all.
They actually worship him, you know –
claim he’s risen,
ascended,
if you like, lifted up again!
Well, more fool them,
for I saw Jesus squirm,
watched him suffer and die,
and, believe me, there was nothing glorious about it,
nothing to suggest a king and a crown.
Let them glory in a cross if they want to,
extol a broken, crucified Lord.
It will never catch on.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the message of the cross,
an offence to some,
nonsense to others,
but to us the power and wisdom of God.
Thank you for the awesome truth of which it speaks:
the love, forgiveness and new life you made possible
through surrendering yourself there for all.
For the way your cross has spoken across the years
and continues still so powerfully to speak,
receive our praise.
Amen.