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GOOD FRIDAY - GLORIFICATION ON THE CROSS
During the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to join in His suffering. As the Apostle Paul said, we must fill up in our own bodies what is still lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the Church (Colossians 1:24). By experiencing this suffering, we unite ourselves intimately with Him. Let us share in His sufferings and eventually rejoice in His resurrection after three days; may God grant us this blessing.
Many people express concern that venerating and respecting the Cross in Orthodox tradition, constitutes idolatry, thereby violating the Second Commandment given through Moses. However, from our perspective, the Cross is deeply respected as a glorious symbol of salvation. Conversely, for those who despise and denounce it, the Cross is viewed as a symbol of foolishness, failure, and condemnation.
St. Paul mentions the message of the Cross in his epistle, notably stating: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). In this context, the "word of the Cross" refers to the message of the Cross or Cross itself. Paul further adds, "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Here, St. Paul specifically mentions that we preach Christ crucified, because this passage is not about the resurrected Christ. There is an underlying reason for referring to Him as the crucified Christ. The Jews and Greeks there were despising Jesus, saying that He was a failure because He was crucified. Although He had shown some miracles and it was claimed that He saved many, they said He could not save Himself from the cross. This type of common talk was heard from many who were watching the crucifixion. Many people teased and despised Him, especially as the cross was considered by the Romans to be a condemned way of wicked death. Only in this context does Paul declare the crucified Christ, and that the Cross is a symbol of victory and salvation for those who believe. When we see the cross, we see Jesus.
It appears there is no explicit Old Testament prophecy stating that Jesus would die by crucifixion. However, the curse originating from the tree in Eden is removed by a tree itself. The curse caused in the Garden of Eden by the tree is withdrawn by the tree of the cross raised on Golgotha, through Jesus Christ. In Galatians 3:13, St. Paul refers to the Jewish tradition that a person hanged on a tree is cursed. He writes, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'." Paul is citing the Old Testament law found in Deuteronomy 21:23. Jesus took upon Himself the curse of the law through His perfect obedience by dying a shameful death. This interpretation aligns with Peter's speech in Acts 5:30, where he mentions Jesus being hanged on a tree.
In the same manner, when Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, Isaac was saved by a tree in which a ram, provided for the sacrifice, was entangled. Abraham built the altar there, arranged the wood, bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Eventually, Isaac was rescued because a ram was caught in a thicket (a tree/shrub) by its horns. Thus, a tree served as the means of deliverance for Isaac.
Reference must be made to the promised Messiah: the blessed seed, Christ, was sacrificed in our stead, just as this ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac, and his death was our release. Therefore, Church fathers view Isaac as a foreshadowing (or type) of Jesus Christ.
Many Old Testament prophecies foretell the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
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Psalm 22 acts as a prophetic summary of the crucifixion: detail the agony of the crucifixion itself, further describe the resulting victory. Specifically prophecies it include Christ’s cry of abandonment, mockery by onlookers, physical torment and exhaustion, the piercing of his hands and feet, and the soldiers casting lots for his clothing.
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Isaiah 50:4-9 summarizes the passion by foretelling the "Suffering Servant’s" willing submission to physical abuse, humiliation, and mockery. This passage specifically highlights the beating, scourging, and plucking of his beard, mirroring Jesus' suffering during His trial and crucifixion.
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Isaiah 54 outlines the results of Christ's death and passion, focusing on the restoration, covenant of peace, and expansion of the church. It describes the shift from suffering to comfort, promising that the "Suffering Servant's" sacrifice brings eternal righteousness, security, and victory over adversaries.
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Zechariah 12:10–14 prophesies the death of Christ by predicting that the Messiah would be "pierced" by his own people, leading to intense national mourning and repentance. It highlights the crucifixion (piercing), the specific mourning for an only son (Jesus), and the eventual recognition of Him by the house of David.
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In addition, the Lord Jesus Himself foresaw and told His disciples during His public ministry that He was to suffer, be killed, and be elevated into glory.
For Christians, the Cross is a glorified, valuable, and honorable symbol. When meditating on the Cross according to our prayers, readings, and the teachings of our Church Fathers, we ascribe to it many distinct aspects.
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The Cross is a Symbol of Victory:
Due to the transgression of the first man, Adam, sin and death originated within the human race. However, through His death on the Cross, Jesus gained victory over sin, Satan, and death. When Jesus spoke of His impending death while in Caesarea Philippi, Simon Peter, who had witnessed Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, rebuked Him, saying this should not happen. Jesus immediately reprimanded Peter, calling him "Satan". We notice here that Peter’s inner, worldly thought was that Jesus should not die, but rather continue as an earthly king. Yet, Jesus admonished him because He was sent to this world to be victorious over sin, Satan, and death through the sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was not a helpless victim; on the contrary, He was a conqueror. Rather than being overcome by death, He willingly laid down His life and triumphed over it.
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The Cross is the Tree of Life:
It served as a substitute for the Tree of Life in Eden. After sin was committed, Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned in every direction, were stationed to guard the way to the Tree of Life, so that man might not stretch out his hand, take from the Tree of Life, eat, and live forever. During Pesaha (Passover), we sing that Jesus was the Fruit of Life which Adam could not taste in Eden.
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The Cross is a ladder extending to heaven:
Just as man was once expelled from Paradise, he now gains the experience of Paradise again through the Cross. Therefore, we re-enter Paradise by means of this ladder of the Cross.
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The Cross is a weapon against Satan:
In our Great Lent prayers, we repeatedly pray for the Cross to be a peaceful defense against Satan. Satan truly feared the death of Jesus; therefore, the Cross on which Jesus died is the nightmare of Satan.
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The Cross is a bridge over the river of fire:
It is clearly mentioned in the fourth Premeon of the Orthodox burial service that the bridge of the Cross is utilized to cross the river of burning fire. This refers to the Orthodox theological imagery of the soul's journey after death.
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The Cross is a symbol of peace:
It is a symbol that unites the Father in heaven with humanity on earth. St. Paul speaks of it as the breaking down of the wall of enmity. That is why our Church father say of Cross as symbol of peace.
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The Cross is a refuge and sanctuary:
Whenever we face hardships, we immediately run to the cross for solace and shelter. It provides us with security and courage because we behold the visible presence of Jesus upon it.
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The Cross is the sign of the risen Christ:
Whether it is made of stone, wood, or any other material, the cross possesses life and spirit. The Church Fathers teach us that the Cross is a crown.
Yahweh God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The first two commandments are: "I am Yahweh your God," and "You shall have no other Gods before me. You shall not make for yourself any image, nor anything in the heaven above or on the earth below, nor in the water under the earth [to worship them]."
Regarding this, many people ask: "Is veneration of the cross not idolatry?" Here is what I have to tell them: Yahweh Himself commanded Moses to make a tabernacle for meeting and an ark made of cedar/acacia wood. Furthermore, He commanded him to make a mercy seat (krupasanam) with pure gold and two cherubim made of gold to be installed in the middle of the tabernacle. Also, God told Solomon to build the temple, and explained to him how to build it, including two cherubim covering the mercy seat. These were all commanded by the same God, Yahweh.
When the people were bitten by the fire-serpents and were dying, God said to make a serpent of brass and lift it up in the middle of the camp; whoever looked at it would be saved. This was also told by God Yahweh.
In short, an idol is something one sees instead of God, but in the cross, we see the visible presence of Jesus Christ.
Veneration of the Cross commenced in the fourth century, after the Church obtained freedom. Before that, rather than openly exposing the cross, Christians often used the fish symbol instead. After freedom was declared by Emperor Constantine, the cross was considered the symbol of salvation. We know of the excavation of the Cross of Jesus by Queen Helena. A woman named Egeria (or Etheria) from Spain visited the Holy Land during Lent and Passion Week, and she was in Jerusalem. She wrote a description of her journey in a travelogue known as The Travel of Egeria (or Pilgrimage of Egeria). In this book, she mentions that in the fourth century (between 300 and 400 AD), at the temple in Jerusalem at Golgotha, a bishop raised the Lord's Cross in his hands, and the faithful came and bowed before the cross. Later, two deacons stood on both sides of the cross to guard it. This event confirms that the veneration of the cross was in practice from that time.
As we draw close to Jesus Christ on Good Friday to partake in His suffering, I would like to conclude my words by bringing one more matter to your attention.
Dear friends, the Church in India is very fortunate. To this day, we have not faced significant persecution or hardship. However, we know that many other churches, particularly those in West Asia, which were once Christian strongholds from the early centuries, have experienced a shift where other religions have become predominant. There, believers have either been forced to convert, fled, or were murdered and became martyrs.
When we participate in the suffering of the Lord, we must remind ourselves that we should not shrink away when faced with persecution and hardship.
I want to remind you that the Church in India must be prepared to face many challenges during this period. We may have to encounter various types of difficulties, perhaps from other religions or from political authorities. Such crises are going to occur in our lives. During any crisis, you and I must be ready to witness for Christ. We should not sit comfortably within the safety of the church; we must be able to confess Christ and be witnesses when harsh days press against us. We understand that the time for such things is near. We may have to face various difficulties, even in our own land of Kerala, not to mention in North India.
Therefore, the suffering of Christ should compel us to prepare ourselves to truly suffer for Him.
I conclude my words. May God bless you.
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