Why does the Church celebrate Holy Cross Day on September 14? In the fourth century, St Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, sought to locate and authenticate places connected with Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Constantine later built churches on many of these sites. Legend tells us that on September 14, 320 AD, Helena claimed to have found the cross on which Jesus was crucified and eventually, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built on that location in Jerusalem.
Yet on this day we do not celebrate the recovery of a relic—whether the legend is true or not. Instead, we give thanks that the cross was the very instrument which Jesus paid for our sin. He was lifted high upon the cross to bear the sins of the world and to draw all people to Himself.
The cross was once a shameful instrument of death, yet it has become for us the sign of peace and reconciliation with the Father because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. By God’s grace we too are called to take up our own cross, confess Christ as our one and only Savior, and follow Him on His path of righteousness.
Our Holy Gospel for today, from John chapter 12, takes place on Palm Sunday. Jesus is in Jerusalem and some Greeks, God-fearing Gentiles, wanted to see Jesus. Later that week, on Good Friday, they did see Him. They saw Him nailed to a cross. That was the hour of His glorification. We don’t usually think of crucifixion as glory. Yet, the hour of this crucifixion was glorious because Jesus obeyed His Father’s will to save the world by a sacrificial death upon the cross.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” A seed must die and be planted in order to produce fruit. This is a picture of Jesus’ death and resurrection. If He does not die, He cannot rise. But He did die, saying, “It is finished.” He bowed his head and gave up His spirit. He was then “planted” or laid in the tomb. He “sprouted” to life again and now bears much fruit. Jesus once said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The fruit His produces in you is love for one another. You bear fruit when you are faithful in your vocation and station in life; when you are a faithful spouse, a parent, or a child; when you are faithful in the family, in your education, or employment; when you support the Gospel and when you care for the poor and needy.
Jesus also said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus said this to show that He would die by means of crucifixion. And sure enough, on Good Friday, He was nailed to the cross. Then, the cross was lifted up in the air for all to see the shame He went through. Roman crucifixion was reserved for slaves, criminals, and murderers. It was a shameful and humiliating death. Jesus endured not only the physical agony, but also the wrath of God for our sin. He was covered not only in blood, but also with our sin and transgression.
In our Old Testament reading from Numbers chapter 21, we learn that the Israelites complained against God and against Moses. As a way to discipline the people, God sent fiery serpents to bite the people. The people repented of their sin and asked God to take away the serpents. God did not take away the serpents, but He had Moses make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole for everyone to see. If the people looked at the bronze serpent with faith in God’s promises, they would live. This foreshowed by what means Jesus would die, namely, being lifted up on a cross.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” In other words, just as the bronze serpent looked like a serpent, yet it carried no venom. So also, Jesus looked like us having flesh and bones, yet He was without sin, but He carried our sin and transgression. Just as the Israelites were saved through faith in God’s promise, so also, we are saved through faith in Jesus. We will not perish but we will have eternal life.
In the garden of Eden, Satan was in a tree bringing sin and death into our world by tempting Adam and Eve. Satan used a tree to overcome Adam and Eve. Yet, by the tree of the cross, Jesus brought life and salvation into our world. Jesus used the tree of the cross to overcome Satan.
Charlie Kirk’s death was unexpected. Sadly, his life was taken away by a violent act of murder. But Jesus’ death on the cross did not happen by chance. He knew from the beginning that He would be lifted up on a cross to atone for our sin with His own blood. Three days later, He rose from the death confirming that sin is paid for and that death and the devil are defeated. In Christ, there is the forgiveness of sin. In Christ, there is life and salvation.
On the evening of the first Easter, Jesus showed Himself alive to his disciples. He showed them His pierced hands and the wound in his side proving that He was crucified, yet He is now alive.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in my though he die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in my shall never die.” Charlie believed in Christ. He died an unfortunate and unexpected death, yet he lives with our Lord. You live now. You will someday die, yet you will not die an eternal death, but you will live eternally. Violent people can take our life away, but they can never take away our salvation in Christ.
St Paul says in our Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians chapter 1, “We preach Christ crucified.” And even today, preaching is about our Savior who was crucified for us and for our salvation. Christianity is about Jesus—His life, His death, and His resurrection. Preaching is about repentance and the forgiveness of sins, but it is centered on Christ, our one and only Savior. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is our only way to heaven. His word is true, and He is our only source of life.
St Paul goes on to say that “the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The world sees the Gospel as foolishness. The word refused to believe in the one true God. The world rejects the Bible as the only source of truth. The world will do everything to fight against the church. The world does not like traditional marriage and does everything to destroy it. The world loves immorality, adultery, fornication, murder, and the list goes on and on. The world hates the Christian and seeks to silence him.
Jesus once said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (Jn 15:18-21).
Does the Gospel meet opposition here in America? Yes, it does! Is Christianity ridiculed? Yes, it is! Do people suffer for the faith? Yes, they do! The unbelieving world fights hard against Christianity and the truth of God’s Word. Evil is all around us. Yet, Jesus never promised that the Christian life on earth will be a bed of roses. He said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33).
The devil is our real enemy. He attacks God’s Word. He attacks the church. He seeks to destroy marriage, family, and society. He causes our world to become increasingly pagan and immoral. We are in a spiritual warfare fighting against the “spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Eph 6:12).
But nevertheless, Christ won the victory. Your sins are paid for in full by Christ’s righteous death upon the cross. Jesus overcame death by rising from the dead. And the devil is defeated! In Christ, there is forgiveness, life, and salvation. Heaven is open for all who believe. There is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When you were confirmed, you were asked, “Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?” And you answered, “I do, by the grace of God.” Then you were asked, “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?” And you answered, “I do, by the grace of God.”
Living in a fallen world, what should we do? Always live a life of repentance confessing your sin to God and receiving His forgiveness in Christ. We are not perfect. Since we have a sinful nature, we will always need the Gospel.
Furthermore, by God’s grace, don’t throw in the towel. Don’t comprise with the devil or with false doctrine. By God’s grace, remain faithful. Christ will give you strength to persevere in the midst of hostility.
Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, and speak the truth in love so that they may be converted and come to faith in Christ.
Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are undergoing persecution. When one member of the body suffers, then we suffer together with them (1 Cor 12:26).
Dearly beloved in the Lord, Jesus gave up His life for you on the cross and He rose again. He rescued you from sin, death, and the devil. He has given you his righteousness and the crown of life. Therefore, by the grace of God, remain faithful unto death (Rev 2:10). Continue to be lights in a dark world confessing Christ as your one and only Savior.
The Roman cross was once a shameful instrument of death, yet because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice it has become our sign of peace and reconciliation with the Father. We are proud to display a cross as a sign of our salvation. Here at Christ Lutheran Church, we have a cross in the stained glass window, on the altar, and here by the pulpit. In the narthex there is a crucifix. We even have crosses displayed in our homes and people were it as jewelry. We are not ashamed of the Gospel. We are not ashamed of the cross.
By God’s grace, may we bear our own cross of suffering, confess Christ as our one and only Savior, and follow Him on His path of righteousness all the way to heaven. Amen.
