The Feast of the Cross
On Monday, 19th March the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Cross. Indeed the Cross of Christ was not an accident or just a historical fact, but it was planned from God beforehand and before the foundation of the world.
St. Peter says: “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:18; Acts 2:22-24).
There are many symbols, shadows and types of the Lord’s Cross and redemption in the books of the Old Testament:
1. Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac (Genesis 22)
This event is a living symbol of God’s salvation, through the Cross. The Church meditates on that event on Covenant Thursday liturgy, remembering the offering of Isaac as a sacrifice during the fraction of the Lamb. The wood of the burnt offering that Isaac carried till he reached the place of offering (Mount Moria) was a symbol of the cross carried by Christ on the way to Golgotha.
Isaac (the sacrifice) was the only son of Abraham, and so the Lord Jesus is the only Son of the Father. Thus, the Lord said to Nicodemus: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16). St. Paul also said: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32).
After the three days walk to that mount, Isaac returned back alive with his father; likewise is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus on the third day. St. Clement of Alexandria said: “Abraham’s soul was comforted on the third day, when he knew the mystery of the resurrection of the crucified, and he rejoiced as he saw it in his son.” (John 8:56).
2. The Heavenly Ladder of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-22).
This ladder is a symbol of the Cross of our Lord. St. Jerome said: “By faith we ascend through the Cross to enjoy the heavenly glory. The Cross of our Saviour is the ladder of Jacob, on which he saw the angels descending and ascending. This vision happened when Jacob was on his way to his Uncle to take for himself a wife. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ (the actual Jacob) was crucified and died on the Cross (the ladder) before taking to Himself His Church. He offered His blood on the Cross as a dowry for His Kingdom.”
3. The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:3-7).
The Passover Lamb was roasted in fire on two crossed iron rods, resembling the Cross. After the Passover, the Israelites were freed from Pharaoh’s slavery. Our Lord is our Passover who was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7) and He suffered the fiery agony of crucifixion to pay our debts to the divine justice, and freed us from the slavery of Satan.
4. The Rod of Moses (Exodus 14:15-29).
Moses lifted up his rod and stretched his hand over the Red Sea and divided it, and the Israelites passed over it and were saved from Pharaoh and his horsemen. Our Lord Jesus stretched His hands on Calvary and struck Satan by the wood of the Cross (the Rod), saying: “It is finished.” (John 19:30). Christ descended into Hades and saved mankind from eternal death. When we believe in Christ’s crucifixion we go through the baptismal water (the Red Sea), as was said by St. Paul: “All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Corinthians 10:2). While we are in the wilderness of this world, we follow our Saviour, as the Israelites followed Moses,till we enter the promised heavenly Jerusalem.
5. The Green Tree Cast by Moses into the Bitter Water in Marah (Exodus 15:23-25).
The Lord asked Moses to cast the tree into the bitter waters in Marah and the water was made sweet, and the people could drink. The tree resembles the Cross, as without it and without believing in the crucified Christ, man would perish by the bitterness of sin. Also, through the power of the Cross (the Green Tree) we can fulfill the commandments of God, and their seeming difficulty is turned to ease.
6. The Defeat of Amalek by Moses’ Prayers and Stretched Hands (Exodus 17:10-15).
When the Israelites started to fight Amalek (the Giants), Moses stretched his hands in the shape of the Cross, till they defeated Amalek. It was written: “Aaron and Hur supported his hands one on one side and the other on the other side and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek.” (Exodus 17:12-13). The same, when Christ stretched His hands on the Cross, He defeated Satan (Amalek), and saved us from eternal death and He will lead us in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14) and we will be more than conquerors.
7. The Bronze Serpent on a Pole (Numbers 21:4-9)
The Lord sent the fiery serpents among the people and they bit them and many of the people died. When the people came to Moses and admitted their sins against God and Moses, he prayed for them and the Lord told him to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole and whoever was bitten would be healed, when he looked to the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:4-9).
Lifting the bronze serpent on a pole was a symbol of the death of Christ on the Cross. All those who believe in the Lord Jesus and His Cross receive salvation, and are saved from eternal death. When the Lord said to Nicodemus: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” He added: “Whoever believes in Him (who was lifted up on the Cross) should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So, the fiery serpents that killed many people are Satan,, the old serpent, who killed many with his poison, and all who were slain by him were strong men (Proverbs 7:26).
8. Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh
”And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand towards Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly for Manasseh as the first born.” (Genesis 48:13-14). In so doing, Jacob formed the sign of the Cross by both arms. This prophesy is read on the third hour of Good Friday.
At the offertory the priest stretches his hands to select the Lamb in exactly the same manner as Jacob, for the chosen Lamb will be converted to the Body of Christ. This blessing of the Cross is used by the priest in the final phase of the wedding ceremony as the Bride and Groom kneel before the altar.
9. The Iron Float
During the time of Elisha the Prophet, some men were felling the trees and lopping the branches, a rod of iron fell into the water. They all started to shout and sought the advice of Elisha the Prophet, a man of God. He advised that they throw a log of timber into the water and the rod of iron would float (2 Kings 6:1-7). With the wooden Cross, we carry everything that is heavy, floats and thus breaking the law of nature. Whatever is impossible for man is possible for God (Luke 18:27).
We encourage you to attend the vespers of the Cross on Sunday night and participate in the heavenly procession and attend the Holy Liturgy and partake in Holy Communion which is the sacrifice of the Cross.
Please pray for me.
Your servant
Father Matthew
