23 Crosses: The Owie One

By Pastor Wilson

This year I’m writing a devotional series based on the 23 Crosses that hang on our family’s cross wall at our home. Each unique cross serves to uniquely remind us of the love of God for us in Christ. I pray that these devotions will remind you of the same. Each devotion will also be posted on our blog at TrinityZanesville.org.

The Owie One. That’s what our daughter Maisie calls it. It’s the only cross on our cross wall that could be called a crucifix- that is a cross with a figure of Christ on it. Often times in protestant churches, crosses appear without Christ and the reasons for that make sense. Jesus is no longer on the cross. Jesus has already paid the price for our sins. Christ has been crucified. Christ has been buried. Christ has been raised from the dead. Just as the angel told the women at the tomb in Mark’s Gospel- “He has risen, He is not here!” So too is it true that Jesus is no longer on the cross- for He has died and risen as well.

But are there good reasons to have crucifixes amongst our cross walls and in our churches too? Certainly so. For while Christ is no longer on the cross- His death there in your place is what gives the cross its power in the first place. His death on the cross is what brings you forgiveness of your sins. His death on the cross is the single, solitary act of history that justifies you. Without Jesus dying on the cross we are all lost. But through His death on the cross in your place and for your sake- we are saved through Him.

The crucifix also reminds us of what our Savior willingly endured and faced for us. For a three-year old, calling this cross an owie cross is accurate. For Jesus endured the pain of the cross for you. He endured thick nails being driven into his hands and feet, fixing him to a hard wooden cross. He endured the pain that comes from your weight being held up not with your own strength, but with nails ripping through your flesh. He endured the shame and humility of such a public death and mockery. And of course, even more than all the physical pain, He endured the searing pain of being forsaken by God the Father Himself because of your sins. This cross on our wall reminds us of all of that, and I pray it reminds you of the same.

And so, we can say with confidence that crosses both empty and not have a place in our Christian life. While the crucifix reminds us that Jesus has died for your sins and you are forgiven in Him. The empty cross reminds us that the death of Christ is not the end of the story. As we journey together through this season of Lent, repenting of our sin and turning anew to the cross of our Savior we remember what comes after it as well- our Savior’s victorious resurrection from the dead. Thanks be to God for all that He has done for us in Christ crucified and risen for you!