
JERUSALEM - MARCH 16, 2008: Ultra-Orthodox Jews watch Clive Cornish, a 41-year-old Christian pilgrim from Cardiff, Wales, carry his large wooden cross as he retraces the footsteps of Jesus into the Holy City. Cornish began his journey, walking with his Cross, from Jerusalem to Rome on Easter Sunday. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)
What is the difference between a Protestant cross and a crucifix?
A crucifix, favored by the Roman Catholic Church, depicts Jesus Christ's dead body still on the cross. The idol made with man's hands usually shows Jesus with long hair like a hippy.
There is no verse in the Bible that describes Jesus as having long hair or a beard. In fact, it reads that there was nothing attractive about Him, for a reason.
"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2)
The Protestant cross unlike the crucifix has not the body of Jesus on it. More on this difference, later in this post.
Now, the Christian cross is a symbol of Christianism largely because Christ was crucified by the Roman Empire at the behest of the Jewish religious leaders who railroaded Him on charges of blasphemy: a crime punishable by death under the laws given to Moses.
But how can Almighty God blaspheme Himself.? He cannot.
Jesus, who had a human nature and a divine nature, is the only true deity: the Creator of all mankind, the earth, sky, sun, moon, stars, animals, angels and all things in between.
It is clearly demonstrated in the Bible that Jesus both always existed as a Spirit because God is first an uncreated Spirit brought into being through Mary as flesh, blood and bones.
The all-knowing ageless Jesus who had no beginning and has no end led Moses, Aaron, Joshua, the children of Israel, the judges, prophets and kings by way of Spirit. The Jesus who had a beginning and grew in age, stature and wisdom led the disciples, elders, bishops, apostles and writers of the New Testament.
Jesus Christ is known by titles "The" Lord, "My Lord" and "Lord of Lords." David wrote "The Lord said to my Lord." "My" Lord prays to "The Lord" like Abraham was called "My" lord by his wife Sarah.
The precious blood of Christ not of God who does not bleed. Christ is a title meaning "Anointed of God."
Mary was not His mother, as Roman Catholics teach and believe. God has no parents and no siblings, lineage or age.
This is what the Holy Scriptures say about The Deity, dying on the cross of crucifixion:
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of not reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8)
Crucifixion was a form of corporal punishment used by the Romans.
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a heavy, wooden cross that He was forced to carry Himself until He could not walk another step. Then a man named Simon the Cyrene carried Jesus's cross to the hill of crucifixion.
Christ had been scourged, or whipped almost to the bone, before being forced to carry His cross to a hill outside of Jerusalem known as both Cavalry and Golgotha.
There, His hands and feet were nailed to the cross before it was lifted up from the earth.
Christ foretold that after He was crucified, "lifted up from the earth," then He would draw all men unto Him.
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)
Indeed, His crucifixion spurred a phenomenon among men and women, the world over, that was first called Christianity in the city of Antioch, Syria.
Of course, the "people of the way," as Christians were first known, became an absolutely massive movement that the world cannot ever stop or forget.
Now, there were two thieves crucified with Christ, one on the left and one on the right. But the world forgot about those two.
That is because the two thieves did not prophesy that they would arise from the dead, like Jesus did. They were not divine.
But the divine Christ Jesus arose from the grave, after three days, just like He said He would.
Then, He walked the earth for some 40 days after His resurrection - being seen by some 500 people, including His disciples, before He ascended into Heaven.
Some people, whether purposely or not, leave out the fact that Jesus was resurrected, and that He now grants eternal life to whosever believes in Him.
For some people, the concept of the cross is lunacy.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness." (1 Corinthians 1:23)
The Greeks sought wisdom. Many of their philosophers became world renowned.
Although Athens, Greece was known for its love of learning, wisdom and philosophy during the Roman Empire when Christ's ministry was in full force.
None of the most prominent Greek philosophers, unfortunately, were Christians,
Jesus warned that whosoever cannot bear a cross and come after Him, cannot be with Him.
"And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)
Contrasted to a crucifix, Orthodox Christians in general prefer crosses without the body of Jesus on it.
Why?
Because Christ Jesus is the risen savior. He is not dead. And, Protestants would rather represent the living God.
Roman Catholics often prefer to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made. But, a dead body on a cross is a bit morbid for most Protestants.
Nevertheless, throughout the blood of His cross, the Lord set all humans in state of peace and not enmity with God. So that, walking in faith we are made holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight
"having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20)
"And He that takes not His cross and follows after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:11)
Now you know why the cross, and not the RCC's crucifix, is preferred by Protestants.
Long live the highly-preferred Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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