Too many crosses?

Among the less visible things that happen in the church are the visits made by the local schools - to help the children to understand something about what goes on in every church and to see what is distinctive about a Baptist church.

In an action-packed hour or so, the children get to hear the organ - at its highest note and its lowest note, see and taste the communion elements, have a (dry) experience of the baptistry and often see two of their class get 'married!'

At one stage in the visit, we ask the group how many crosses they can see in the church.  There are lots!

In addition to the tapestry, the communion table, lectern and reading desk, the metal framework of the building provides a large number of other places where a cross-shape can be seen.
 This gives us the chance to explain why the symbol of the cross is central to the Christian faith.  It is that powerful reminder of the place of suffering that Jesus endured for each one of us so that we might be forgiven our sins.

As I look around the church with the children and see so many crosses, I am pleased that here in Marshalswick we have so many visible reminders of God's great love for us - carved in wood, welded in the form of girders and so on.

But then I ask an almost sacrilegious question: do we have so many crosses, in church and in the world that we have become immune to its significance?

Wherever we look, the symbol of the cross is used as decoration, jewellery, fashion statement - often separated from any association with its true meaning.  Does this sheer plethora of crosses stop society from fully appreciating the power and significance of the cross?

As we continue through Lent and go into Holy Week - and on to the great celebration of Easter - we should look a little more closely at the cross, focusing our thoughts on its true message of forgiveness and freedom that Jesus' death and resurrection gives us.

We should rejoice at the many images of the cross in society because they all remind us that Jesus died for humanity and for the sins of the whole world.  This is the Good News that the whole world needs to hear.

We should focus again on what Jesus has done, personally, for each one of us through the cross, bringing the gift of eternal life and bring him our thanks and praise.

We need to remember also that the suffering and sacrifice of the cross points to the glory of the empty tomb and the Risen Jesus showing us that, through him, even death and evil have been conquered.

It doesn't' really matter how many crosses we can see.  What really matters is that we look at the cross closely and allow it to speak to us of God's sacrificial love and the glory of the resurrection into the new life that Jesus brings.

by Graham Clarke.