The Cross

And so that you might learn this accurately, previously the cross was a word of condemnation and punishment, but now it has become a thing that is valuable and desirable. Previously the cross was a cause of shame and chastisement, but now it has become the occasion of glory and honor.

Sermons on the Life of Christ, by St John Chrysostom (Translation and introduction by Robert G. T. Edwards)

This sermon was preached on Good Friday, probably in Antioch.

Today we keep the feast and festival, beloved, for our Master is on the cross and has been pierced with nails.

As is John’s habit when preaching on feast days, the event is happening now – today. Our Master is on the cross – today. He calls the cross the crown of our salvation and the cause of myriad good things: we were before dishonored, but now we take the position of sons.

What was accomplished via the cross?

· We were slaves, but are lifted to the freedom of righteousness.

· The earth has become heaven.

· It freed us from error and guided us to the truth.

· It reconciled us to God.

· It leads us to the summit of virtue.

· It quenched the deceit of demons and abolished deception.

· By the cross, the demons run, and the devil put to flight.

· It enlightened us who were in darkness.

· It reconciled those at war.

· We no longer fear the burning arrows of the devil

That is a lot for the cross to bear. But all of these accomplishments are due to this:

By this we no longer fear of the wolf, for we recognize the good shepherd. By this we no longer shudder at the tyrant, for we have recourse to the king.

The cross is a festival! We should celebrate because of the cross.

…He Himself is both sacrifice and priest. Sacrifice according to the flesh, and priest according to the spirit. The same one both offered and was offered.

We see this idea reflected in the book of Hebrews, where Christ is understood as both sacrifice and priest.

He was sacrificed not in the regular place of sacrifice, the temple. This was done to demonstrate that this was a sacrifice not only for the Jews. He was sacrificed outside of the city walls to make clear that the sacrifice is universal – for all the earth. By doing this, He purified all the earth, making every place a house of prayer.

For all the earth at last became holy – or rather even holier that the Jews’ Holy of Holies.

Isn’t this enough? John could have stopped here, but he had more. There is another great accomplishment of the cross: it opened paradise, which until now had been locked fast. Further, it let the thief in.

He shook creation. He split the rocks, and He made the thief’s soul, which was more unfeeling than a rock, softer than wax.

Today you will be with Me in Paradise. What are you saying? The cherubim and the flaming sword guard paradise, and you promise the thief entry there?

He can do this because He is Master of the cherubim. He is able to make the thief worthy of the luxury of paradise. He was not disgracing the kingdom; He honored it all the more. He is able to make prostitutes and tax collectors so valuable that they appear worthy of the honor of paradise.

He takes people who have incurable illnesses of the soul and is able both to set them free from evil and to declare those who drove headlong into the utmost evil worthy of the kingdom of heaven.

Look at the quality of the thief: Peter, the chief of the disciples, was denying Christ while the thief confessed Him; Peter could not stand the threat of a lowly girl, while the thief was able to look past all the insults thrown at Christ and come to acknowledge Him. The thief did not have three years of following Jesus; he did not benefit from the teaching, the witnessing of miracles, etc.

(John acknowledges that one of the evangelists states that both thieves railed against Jesus. This is true, but then the good thief changed his view.)

The good thief did the work prepared for him beforehand, when he challenged the other thief: Do you not fear God? Don’t you know that you will soon be facing righteous judgement? He did what he could to spare the other thief from error. We are receiving our just punishment, but this one, this Jesus, is being punished unjustly – He did nothing wrong.

He is making a complete confession, right there on the cross. Only after this was he able to say, Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom. The power of confession, even on that cross!

Therefore, so that we might receive the benefit of His philanthropy, let us not be ashamed to confess our own sins. For great is the strength of Confession, and great is its power. For behold, that thief confessed, and he found paradise opened!

Conclusion

Luke 23: 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Here we see the Master’s unspeakable love for humanity. Even when He was being crucified, He was interceding for those who were crucifying Him. They mocked Him: come down from the cross. He wouldn’t do this; He did something greater: He forgave them.

Therefore, I exhort you, let us imitate our Master and pray for our enemies.

As Jesus said: if you only love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even the tax collectors do this.

Therefore, when we pray for our friends, we do not yet become any better than tax collectors. But if we love our enemies, and we pray for our enemies, we become like God, as much as a human being can.