We Preach Christ Crucified…
a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:23-24
EIGHT YEARS AGO, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, dating from Luther’s posting of the Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg. The logo above was used, which may raise questions with some people, including Christians. For here, we have the depiction of Jesus Christ’s body hanging from the cross. If we think about it for more than a passing second, we will realize: this is a horrifying picture in every mortal sense of the word. Enough ink has been spilled and film has been canned to describe the sheer torture our Savior endured for our sake that I do not need to go into detail here, other than to recall Isaiah’s description of this Suffering Servant in chapter 53: He was “one from whom men hide their faces,” because the things done to this God-man were unbearable to behold. This is not an inviting or encouraging image in any human sense. The crucifix is folly. It is a stumbling block—a scandal. Such an offensive depiction should never be on public display, let alone as the focal point of a worship space, right?
Yet this scandal is precisely why it is not only appropriate, but often necessary for the crucifix to stand boldly before us, inescapable to our sight. The sacrificial Lamb of God depicted thus on the altar fixes our eyes upon the power of God and the wisdom of God Who has thus paid for our atonement by this inestimable sacrifice. It recalls Isaiah’s description of the Suffering Servant further: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4a, 5b). Christ’s death on the cross is the point at which “It is finished” (John 19:30).
So have no fear: the crucifix is not a “Roman Catholic thing”; it is a catholic (lower-case c) thing, that is, something for the entire, universal Christian Church. (In fact, fear of the crucifix is more in line with Karlstadt, Zwingli, Calvin, and the Reformed fear of images.) And breathe easy: the crucifix is not a breaking, or even bending, of a commandment against graven images. We do not worship the image; rather, we worship the Person and action that image calls to mind.
Rather, take heart! The crucifix is the sign of Jesus’ exaltation, as the Son of Man is “lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). And lift up your heads! The crucifix is the sign of Jesus’ victory, as by His death He has conquered death, so that as “we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His” (Romans 6:5). And rest easy: the crucifix is the wondrous cross we survey, bringing us to boast only in the death of Christ, our God (cf. LSB 425), for in His death we have life.
So, reveling in the Love so amazing, so divine, behold Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God!
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Pastor Schneider