Holy Cross?

People have a tendency to attribute power to symbols.  This belief is not only held in the pagan or occult arena but is prominent in movies, decor, jewelery, and even churches.  Constantine proliferated the use of the cross as a symbol when he believed Jesus told him to place the symbol of the cross in his standard:  "In this sign, you will conquer."  The cross is used in movies to fend off evil beings like demons or vampires, and the upside-down cross has been long used by Satanists.  Ozzy Osborne is rarely seen without an enormous crucifix hanging from his neck, common attire for all the members of Black Sabbath.

My concern is people in the church might fall into this trap of giving heed to superstition and belief that actual power is contained in the cross itself.  The refrain of a popular Chris Tomlin song goes, "Mighty, awesome, wonderful, is the holy cross where the Lamb laid down His lift to lift us from the fall. Mighty is the power of the cross." It could be misconstrued, based on the improper views placed upon us by culture and ignorance, that the cross in itself has the power to "raise a man to life again." Is the cross indeed holy? This would not be the first time man has regarded as holy what is not.

It was not uncommon for Jesus Christ to hammer the Pharisees for contorting the truth. Matthew 23:16-19 says, "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.' [17] Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? [18] And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.' [19] Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?"  It is clear by the comments of Jesus that the temple sanctifies the gold, and the altar sanctifies the gift.  The temple and altar were to be ceremonially sanctified and anointed before they could be used in God's worship and service.  A sacrifice offered on the altar according to God's command was acceptable in His sight.  A gift offered anywhere else would not be acceptable because it was in violation of God's command.

Now I ask you:  which is greater, the cross or the blood of Christ that sanctifies the cross?  The cross or a symbol of it is no more holy than the tomb which held the body of Jesus Christ for three days.  It is not as if the actual blood of Jesus had any medicinal or healing powers physically within it.  The blood of Jesus was normal, O+ or AB blood (or whatever type).  The blood of Jesus is applied to our hearts spiritually through faith.  What God has cleansed we ought not call common, and we should not call a symbol holy which has been made common.  The cross represents the victory Christ has won over sin and death through His substitute death and resurrection.  It is deeply symbolic of the price God paid to purchase and redeem mankind from damnation.

A similar example if found in the Bible itself.  My Bible says "Holy Bible" on the cover, but it does not mean there is a magical force present in the ink and paper to deliver me from sin.  It contains the words of God, God is holy, so His Word therefore is holy.  Isaiah 57:15:  "For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  The power of God is not found in a piece of wood, a symbol, or a book with letters printed upon it:  the power of God is found within Himself alone.  It is man who is easily caught up in externals when God looks upon the heart.  While we quibble over the relevance of modern translations there remains a God who is seeking people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Go to any graveyard and you will see crosses.  The crosses which adorn graves have no physical power to resurrect the dead, even if they were encrusted with the actual shed blood of Jesus Christ.  It is Jesus Himself who is our Savior and in Him there is power to resurrect us from the dead and make us born again when we repent and trust in Him.  The aforementioned song would be truer sung, "Mighty, awesome, wonderful, is our Holy God.  Jesus He laid down His life to lift us from the fall.  Mighty is the power of our God."  Christ's cross is a simply a marker on the narrow path as we follow Him carrying our own.  "The cross before me, the world behind me...no turning back, no turning back."