Contemplating in the Cross

"Whoever would be my disciple, let them pick up their cross and follow me." -Jesus

I'm sitting in the sanctuary writing this. I'm here setting up the computer and projector for Bill's slideshow on China in the morning, and I had some time before he comes in to practice. And I got to thinking--"I'm sitting in the cross." The cross formed by the arrangement of the chairs for Lent. What does that mean symbolically?

First, that I am a part of the cross--a part of what killed Jesus, and also a part of the sin he took away on that cross. It's two parts of the same thing--like the two bars of the cross, one vertical, one horizontal.

Second, the font is part of the cross--it's enveloped with in it by the chairs. That reminds me of what St. Paul wrote--"If we share in a death like his, we shall surely share in a life like his." Baptism is the "death," a death to sin--which was achieved on the cross! It's fitting for the font to be in the cross.

Third, the Lord's table is at the center of the cross, as it should be. Because it is there at the altar where we receive the body and blood of Jesus--it is where earth and heaven intersect and we are able to touch God. Just like the center of the cross is the place where that vertical bar meets the horizontal.

Fourth and final--the pulpit is a part of the cross. There we find the Word of God--just as we do on the cross of Christ, God's eternal Logos. There Jesus is proclaimed--as he was in the sign "King of the Jews," and by the centurion "Truly this man was the Son of God. Again St. Paul--I do not proclaim myself, only Christ, the crucified one!"
The pulpit is right at home in the cross.

Tomorrow I hope to see you "in the cross." Until then may God keep you in true faith unto eternal life. Amen

Pastor Tom