Objects of Easter: The Cross of Torture and Salvation (Part VII)
Sermon Title: Objects of Easter – The Cross of Torture and Salvation
Good News Statement: Jesus offers us a meaning of Easter through what we see
Summary: The Easter story is filled with touching moments that have changed the world, but it is also filled with objects that have changed our life; and these objects add depth and meaning to the resurrection, which we count on happening.
Preached: Sunday, April 12th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC
Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.
Scripture (NRSVUE): John 19:17 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Gospel of John. During the Lenten and Easter Season, we are going to be walking with Jesus to the Cross, listening to his parables, deciphering his teachings, and experiencing our own resurrection. Our walk leads us to the significance and meaning of the cross. Our scripture reading is from John Chapter Nineteen, Verse Seventeen. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So they took Jesus, 17 and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”
Introduction:
Everywhere you look, you see something, an object that has changed the world. According to Nature, an online news source, “nails, wheels, springs, magnets, lenses, string, and pumps are seven everyday objects that have made the modern world.” Just sitting in this room, I bet you can spot a majority of those objects.
Have you ever given any thought to the objects in your life? Have you thought about how at one point in history that object didn’t exist? Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you didn’t have a certain object that you have today? Have you ever taken a step back and said, “My, how things have changed.” We live in a society, in a culture, in a world where life thrives on objects; and the objects we have today, much like in the past, will be replaced by other objects that would confuse us today but will make life easier in the future. Our life has been, is, and will be consumed by the objects in which we seek.
For a moment, listen to this list of objects that have not only changed our life but have also changed the world: the nail, the wheel, string and rope, magnets, the compass, and lenses, the printing press, vaccines and penicillin, concrete, steel, batteries, electricity, the light bulb, airplanes, automobiles, trains, boats, farm machinery, refrigerators, the microwave, and the sewing machine, credit cards, zippers, Velcro, GPS, computers, smartphones, and the internet. These objects created global interconnection, increased personal mobility, and transformed the ability to store, use, and transfer energy and information. This is not an exhaustive list—and it certainly doesn’t account for every object ever made that changed the world—but it is a list of objects in which many of us have access to today that do in fact change our life.
At this point you may be wondering what all this has to do with Easter, since we are in the Easter Season. Well, the Easter Season is filled with objects that have changed the world. There are Easter Eggs, Baskets filled with gifts and treats, bunny cakes, special candies and sweets, and we can’t forget about the Easter Bunny. But there are other objects related to Easter that have also changed the world. And these objects aren’t just any objects but objects found in scripture during the last days and hours of Jesus’ life. But sadly, sometimes we overlook these objects because, as song writer AJR states, we want “to skip to the good part” which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the moment when the stone is rolled away, the cloth is folded, and the tomb is empty. So, for the next few weeks, we are going to explore certain objects of the Easter Story that have not only changed our life but have changed the world.
Body:
Last Sunday, after spending the morning worshiping and giving thanks for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who left the tomb empty, strategically folding a cloth reminding us of his return, and rolling the stone away—which was a worry for the women walking to the tomb before the sun rose (Mark 16)—and after spending the afternoon and evening with wonderful individuals and eating delicious food, Emily and I sat on the couch and relaxed. Emily curled up under a blanket on her section of the couch with the cats nestled up next to her and I sat on my section of the couch with my feet propped up on the coffee table.
To wind down the day, I read a book that is on loan from a friend. The title of the book is If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All. It was written by Tim Tebow. Tebow is a speaker, entrepreneur, college football analyst for ESPN and SEC Networks, and author of five New York Times bestsellers.[1] Prior to his current endeavors, Tebow was an NFL quarterback, a two-time NCAAF national champion, a Heisman Trophy winner, and a College Football Hall of Fame inductee. He’s also the founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, dedicated to bringing Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Since 2010, the foundation has served some of the world’s Most Vulnerable People—“the real MVps”—across more than one hundred countries through ministry focuses in Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, Orphan Care and Prevention, Profound Medical Needs, and Special Needs.[2]
Tim Tebow’s book is 121 pages in length, is filled with beautiful and touching and moving pictures of Jesus’ remaining hours on earth, and authentically gives voice, through poetry, to the one thing that carried the weight of Jesus as Jesus carried the weight of the world: the cross. Tebow wrote in the introduction to his book: “The wooden cross—once a brutal instrument of public torture, humiliation, and execution for Rome’s worst criminals—was the closest thing to Jesus of Nazareth during His crucifixion approximately two thousand years ago. [The cross] carried His weight. It felt His blood. It heard His breath.”[3] Have you ever realized that during Jesus’ remaining days on earth, besides wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, it is the cross that he physically touches: he carries it, he feels it, he bears its weight, he is nailed to it, and he breathes his last from it? The cross, not the disciples, is what is closest to Jesus during his greatest hour of need, when the sky turned dark, the earth quaked and trembled, the veil torn in two, the people fled, and the tombs of past saints were opened (Matthew 27:50-56). It’s the cross that was present…
Tebow continues in his introduction: “Now imagine, what if the cross had a voice? If the tree that held Jesus could speak, what would it say?”[4] Have you ever been asked, “What does the cross mean to you?” Have you ever found yourself staring at the cross and wondered “why the cross?” Have you ever been drawn to the command of Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that tells us “to deny ourselves and take up [our] cross and follow [him]” (Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24 & Mark 8:34)? What does the cross mean to you today? What does it symbolize today? I’m sure we are all familiar with the idiom[5] “if these walls could talk,” but what about “if the cross could talk.” Today, we end our Lenten and Easter sermon series of focusing on the objects of Easter by examining the one object that brought torture yet salvation: the cross.
Movement One: Reviewing the Past…
Before we get to this week’s Easter Object, let’s remind ourselves of where we have been. Six weeks ago we began a new sermon series focused on the “objects of Easter” that appear during the week, days, and hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Six Sundays ago, we spent time in the “upper room” as mentioned in Mark 14:12-16. Based on biblical descriptions and historical context the “upper room”[6] in Jerusalem—a “large” (Mark 14:15), “furnished” (Luke 22:12), and “ready” (Mark 14:15) space—was located on the second floor of a house. It was in the upper room where Jesus had one last meal with his disciples and washed their feet.[7] To this, I invited you to contemplate the following questions: “Where is your upper room? Where do you allow yourself to feel the presence of Christ in your life?” It’s in your upper room, whatever that may be, that you allow yourself to experience the presence of Jesus Christ.
Five weeks ago, we found ourselves in the courtyard with Peter, who was caught denying Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice (Mark 14:66-72).[8] We also read that after Peter’s denying, “he broke down and wept” (Mark 14:72). Peter wept. He wept because he realized what he had done. But he also realized what we have come to believe today, that is that Jesus forgives us and Jesus loves us. In the courtyard we weep knowing that our life needs to change for Christ.
Four weeks ago, we spent time examining the crown of thorns and the purple robe draped upon Jesus. We learned that the crown of thorns was originally viewed as an object of mockery, humiliation, and torture but has now come to represent the sins Jesus wore to the cross on our behalf. Jesus wore our sins to the cross as they were pressed into him so that we could be set free. Then we learned about the purple robe, which much like the crown of thorns, was an object of mockery. From the color purple, though, the robe was a visual sign to all of us of the courage that Jesus has draped over us. This courage allows us to deny ourselves, carry our cross, follow Jesus, love our enemies, love our neighbors as we love ourselves, turn the other cheek, pray for those who persecute us, and simply do what Christ needs us to do. This courage allows us to live the life that we have been so graciously gifted so that we can face tomorrow.
Three weeks ago, we found ourselves on the road Jesus traveled to his crucifixion known as the Via Dolorosa. In Latin it means “Way of Sorrow” or “Way of Suffering.” As Jesus traveled this road, which wasn’t perfect by any means and what seemed to be a parade for the condemned, he was beaten and tortured, forced to carry his cross as people shouted and mocked him, spat on him and possibly threw things at him. This brief moment invites us to consider the roads that we have traveled and whether or not we seek to find Jesus on those roads.
Two weeks ago, we saw that Jesus entered Jerusalem with shouts and praises. He rode a donkey as cloaks were placed on the ground. He heard people wanting to be saved. He saw palm branches being waved high in the air as well as draped on the ground. It was a joyous day for many; and today it is a day to remind us of the victory that will be placed on a cross, placed in a tomb, and three days later rise from the tomb. We learned that Jesus chose to go to Jerusalem because that is where the good news would be shared the most. We learned that Jesus chose to ride a donkey to show his humility and humbleness, to indicate that he wasn’t a warrior. We learned that the shouts of “Hosannas” were the shouts of prayers for us today. “Hosanna” means “Save us now.” And we learned that the palm branch waved on Palm Sunday is a reminder that we are connected to Jesus and that there is victory in him.
Last week, we ventured to the garden to be with Mary Magdalene as she wept and wanted to hold on to Jesus. Mary does some spiritual cleaning while in the garden and realizes that the tomb was emptied for her and all of us today. She realized that the folded cloth was left there for us so that we would know that Jesus is coming back. She realized that the stone was rolled away as a reminder that nothing can keep us from Christ. And she realized that Easter—Jesus’ resurrection—we called to embody a fresh start and a new beginning in Christ.
And today, we turn our attention to the cross, to the old rugged cross that stood on a hill far away, an emblem of suffering and shame. First, we will look at a few popular questions regarding the cross. Second, examine what scripture says about the cross. And third, what the cross means for us today.
Movement Two: Questions Regarding the Cross…
As Jesus was laid in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, after getting permission from Pontius Pilate to do so, the tomb was sealed. But off in the distance stood an old rugged cross, made by human hands from a tree cut down in God’s creation. Speaking of creation, Tim Tebow, from the perspective of the cross, begins his book by stating, “I was a seed like all other trees. Each year, new branches grew wild and free. I longed for a purpose, a reason for me, to be part of something the world would see. So when the day finally came and my trunk was cut down, I was filled with excitement when taken to town.”[9] The cross of Jesus was made from the trunk of tree that grew from a seed created by God. The tree of the cross was nurtured by God but was made by human hands, also a creation of God. So, even in Jesus’ death creation was present, God was present.
This cross could have been specifically made for Jesus that day—almost appearing perfect from a distance. It could have been a cross made just hours before Jesus’ crucifixion. It could have been perfectly smooth, without blemish, without any tree bark on it, and without any stains or notches. The cross could have been perfect symbolizing the perfection of Christ. Or the cross could have been a cross already stained with the blood of another criminal, could have had multiple holes in it from previous nails, could have had rough bark smoothed down but yet jagged in some places, and it could of not been straight and perpendicular to symbolize how the perfection of Christ overcomes the imperfections of the world.
The bible doesn’t give us much about the physicality of the cross because people during the time of Jesus and even before would know the particulars of a crucifixion which is why the Gospel writers didn’t feel as if they needed to include the fine details. However, we know the cross of Jesus, although an instrument for torture, is a symbol of what Jesus was willing to go through for us so that we could experience salvation. What began as a tree planted in God’s creation soon became a symbol of torture for Jesus Christ but a symbol of hope and salvation for all of us today. However, it is still something that catches our attention.
Here are a few popular questions related to the cross. First, does the Bible mention the dimensions of the cross? No, the Bible does not mention the specific dimensions, height, weight, or type of wood used for the cross upon which Jesus was crucified because, again, those living 2,000 years ago would already know that information and would not need it explained. The Gospel accounts (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19) describe the events of the crucifixion but do not provide technical specifications for the instrument of death. We read in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus carried the cross but was helped by Simon of Cyrene who was “compelled” to carry the cross for Jesus. As for the Gospel of John, John doesn’t mention Simon of Cyrene which gives the notion that Jesus—powerful and strong, relying on his divinity—carries the cross himself, enduring pain with every step he took as he was lead to Calvary.
Furthermore, research suggests that the entire cross is estimated to have weighed over 300 pounds, while the crossbeam itself probably weighed between 75 and 125 pounds. It is said that a typical cross was anywhere from 8 to 10 feet tall. The cross was likely high enough, even after being lowered in the ground, to raise the victim’s feet just high enough above the ground to give the victim a false sense of hope. The height of the cross would also allow people present to be able to touch those and speak to those being crucified. For a moment, just consider Mary, the mother of Jesus, as should stood near the cross: she could reach out and touch her son, she could whisper to her son “I love you,” she could see his eyes when he looked down at her, and she could hear her son speak and struggle to breath. The cross was not just designed for physical torture; but it was designed for emotional and mental torture for those on the cross and those witnessing.
Second, did Jesus carry just the cross beam or the entire cross? While some interpretations exist, specifically in art work and interpretations of scripture, that he carried the whole structure, it is widely believed that Jesus carried only the horizontal crossbeam (called the patibulum), not the entire cross since the cross beam only weighed 75 to 125 pounds verses 300 pounds. The vertical beam of the cross (often called the stipes or stake) most likely would have already been at the location of the crucifixion either laying on the ground or already pre-fixed in the ground and standing up vertically. If this was the case, then when the victim got there the victim’s body (already “attached” to the crossbeam) would have been lifted up to its final position where Roman soldiers on ladders would have been waiting with hammer and nail to permanently affix the victim to their death position. And then, the weight of their body in addition to gravity would forcibly push down on them causing even more pain and struggle to survive. For Jesus, he was crucified at 9:00 in the morning and died at 3:00 in the afternoon (Mark 15:25 and 33-34).[10] So for six hours Jesus lived and breathed on the cross.
Now, I want to be clear, as some of you are probably thinking, that in all four Gospels we are told that Jesus carried the “cross.”[11] John 19:17 specifically says, “and carrying the cross by himself…” Does this mean that he carried the cross beam and the vertical beam? Again, keep in mind that the Gospel writers were writing to a group of people that would understand what they were talking about; and therefore, didn’t need to give every detail. The Gospel writers were probably thinking “cross beam” but knew that simply writing “cross” people would understand. We do the same thing today when we talk with people in our circle and within our own cultural and societal context. We don’t always give every detail but yet the message is received. So, with that being said, historical records indicate that Jesus carried only the cross beam to Calvary.
Third, where was Jesus’s cross in location to the other crosses? According to the Gospels (Luke 23:32-33, Matthew 27:38), Jesus was crucified at “The Skull” (Golgotha) between two criminals—often referred to as thieves or rebels—with one on his right and one on his left; therefore, placing Jesus in the middle. In this moment we see how Jesus’ identification relates to sinners as well as with believers: one criminal refusing to quit mocking Jesus and the other wanting to be remembered by Jesus. His position at his death resembles his position while on this earth.[12]
Nevertheless, in addition to being in the middle, based on traditional, artistic, and theological interpretations, Jesus’s cross is often depicted as being positioned farther forward (or slightly higher) than the crosses of the two thieves. Jesus is typically placed in the middle, representing his role as the mediator between the two thieves, and often elevated or placed in a more prominent position to signify his role as “King of the Jews.” Now in this position, Jesus can’t quite see the criminals as they are behind him, but if the cross of Jesus was placed behind the criminals he would not only hear them but would see them. Jesus would be able to see all those present. Placing Jesus behind the criminals could possibly add depth to his words of forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). While the Gospels confirm he was crucified in the middle, the exact forward and backward positioning is not explicitly detailed in the biblical text but is supported by early Christian tradition and artistic interpretation. So, where do you place the cross of Jesus Christ?
Movement Three: Scripture and the Cross…
There are other questions that can be asked about the cross, but I want to turn our attention to what scripture tells us about the cross. As I stated earlier, the bible doesn’t give a lot of detail about the cross of Jesus, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t still extract a meaning of the cross that changes our life. Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Paul informs us in his letter to the Galatians, “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). Hebrews 12:2 shares, “Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” Peter wrote, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). And lastly, Paul wrote to the people of Philippi, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). The cross is part of Jesus’ life, mission, and message and it should be part of our life each and every day. But what does the cross mean to you?
In thinking about the meaning of the cross, Paul wrote to the people in Corinth in his opening letter, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The word “preaching” in Greek is often translated to mean “logos” which is “message or word.” So the preaching of the cross is the message of Jesus Christ and the word of God; and the two things come together to form the gospel. The foolish will perish because they don’t believe in the cross nor the gospel but those who believe in the message of the cross will be saved which is the message of the gospel. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Through the cross, we witness the life of Jesus Christ, the teachings of Jesus Christ, the message of Jesus Christ, and the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The message of the cross is goodness for us today because of what it does in our life: it redeems us, it saves us, it forgives us, it bears our wounds, it carries our sins, and it loves us no matter what so that we can live a good life through Christ.
If you think about it, the message of the cross is a story of our salvation: it is connected to our ability to be saved. Jesus didn’t ask be crucified on the cross, Jesus didn’t ask to carry the cross, and Jesus certainly didn’t go out and physically make his own cross, although he was a carpenter. Jesus at one point didn’t want to die. He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus doesn’t want to die, but he knows that in order to save us, it’s the will of the Father that must be fulfilled, he must be sacrificed on a cross. Through his sacrifice we have been saved…and we must believe that: “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). When we come to believe in the salvation and eternal life of the cross, we will understand the power of God.
Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes…” The cross is a symbol of God’s power. This power is what saves you. This power is what sets you free from your past. This power is what allows you to say “my chains are gone.” This power is what draws you to Christ. This power is what guides you out of the darkness and into the light. This power is what walks with you in and through the unknown. This power is greater than the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23). This power sees you and hears when no one else does. This power can split your Red Seas and get you to the other side. This power can calm the storms in your life and prevent your boat from sinking. This power can draw you back to the surface. This power can heal you, make you walk again, give you rest when you are tired, and give you the faith to move mountains. This power is the blood of Christ that makes you clean and that is stained on the cross. This power is what was breathed into your lungs when you entered this world. This power was born in a manger for you because there was no room in the Inn. There is power in the cross and through this power you are saved. You can leave everything at the foot of the cross today and know that by the power of the cross you can live a new life in Christ.
Now, the message of the cross is not just a seasonal thing: Jesus didn’t humble himself to the point of death—to die on a cross—so that we embrace the meaning of the cross just one day out of the year. He died on the cross so that his message would be with us every day as we carry own cross. It is something that we are invited to experience every day of our life. The old rugged cross on Calvary is a sign to us that death doesn’t have the last word. On that the cross hung a message of hope, a message of love, a message of salvation, a message of redemption, a message of courage and strength and bravery, a message of transformation, a message of grace, a message of suffering, a message of pain, a message of scars and tears, and a message of sacrifice. The message of the cross is the message of Christ, the power of God, and our own personal stories. The cross is more than a tree cut down from God’s creation, put together by human hands, an instrument of torture: it is a symbol of what Christ was willing to do for you. He died on the cross, proclaimed that “it is finished,” for you because he loves you. What does the cross mean to you?
For a brief moment, I invite you to consider the words that Jesus spoke from the cross. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). From the cross, Jesus forgave you. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). From the cross, Jesus promised you a place in heaven. Jesus said to Mary and John, the beloved disciple, “Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother” (John 19:26-27). From the cross, Jesus put you first before him, showing how much he cares for you. Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). From the cross, Jesus felt alone so that you don’t have to. Jesus said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Jesus became thirsty so that we would constantly be satisfied by his living water. Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). From the cross Jesus called us into action to finish his message. And from the cross Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). From the cross, Jesus calls us into his care, to be placed in his hands.
From the cross, Jesus changed and saved our life. He was born in a wooden trough and died on a wooden cross so that we could experience life. The cross, an instrument of torture, is actually God’s power, the gospel, being given to us as we are saved. The cross is our salvation today.
Movement Four: What Does The Cross Mean to You…
So what does the cross mean to you? When you look at the cross, what do you see? Do you see something that is perfect? Do you see something that has imperfections? Is Jesus on the cross that you see or is the cross empty? Is the cross stained with blood resembling your sins? Is the cross clean as in being “washed by the blood of the lamb”? Could you carry the cross that you see? Are you carrying a cross today? Is the cross merely a sign of torture or is it a promise of salvation? Does the cross symbolize the pain we must endure before we are saved?
The cross could mean something different to each of us here today. For some of you, the cross could mean love, care, and support. For some of you, the cross could mean forgiveness, healing, and redemption. For some of you, the cross could mean hope, fulfilled promises, and salvation. For some of you, the cross could remind you of the trials and sufferings in your life. For some of you, the cross could be a symbol of grief and sorrow. For some of you, the cross could represent the faith and belief that Jesus has for you: dying on a cross so that you can be saved, so that you can experience the power of God, and so that you can continue what he started. The cross is not merely a yesterday thing, it is an everyday thing that has the power to change your life.
Pastor and author, Adam Hamilton often tells the story of a young man who entered the sanctuary, weeping, during the Easter season and went straight to the cross on stage and hugged it as if he were hugging Jesus, who on the cross had his arms stretched out to receive us. Whatever that individual was going through, it was the cross that was providing him comfort and peace and protection. I’m not telling you this story to make you feel as if you have to hug the cross, but maybe that is what you need to do to remind yourself that Jesus is here for you, that Jesus truly does care for you, and that Jesus truly does love you so much that he would die for.
In 2015, while attending a youth conference, I was given a cross made from copper pipe. This cross is with me wherever I am. It stays in my bag and when I need it, it is always near. I’ve even taken it to Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, and to Minnesota. It’s been in my jacket pocket during funerals. I hold on to it in times of fear and desperation. That cross gives me comfort and security. It reminds me that Jesus is with me through everything. Today, I have been given other crosses: crosses made from Legos, decorative crosses that hang on the wall, crosses made from nails, and crosses that fit in my pocket. Each of these crosses all serve a different purpose and are placed in difference places in the parsonage, but no matter where they are or what they are made of or what they look like they all remind me that Jesus is with me, that he died for me, and that I, too, can be saved and forgiven and granted the power to live out the gospel in my life.
Every Easter we talk about the tomb that was found empty, the stone that was rolled away for our sake, the trial of Jesus, the denying of Peter, and the crown of thorns, the purple robe, and the beatings that Jesus endured to demonstrate his love for each of us. What if these items and things could talk? What would they tell us? Sadly, after Easter, these items are “packed” away, silenced until next Easter much like we pack away the manger scene after Christmas; but what remains is the cross.[13] In most churches, a cross is visible all year round. Every time people gather for worship, a cross can be seen. The cross is not just an Easter item: it is a sacred icon, a representation of the church’s DNA, a proclamation of what the church has committed to follow and carry, an eternal message of hope, love, and forgiveness, and a constant reminder of what Jesus did for us and what Jesus needs us to do for him and others: to deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow him. The cross is what leads us and is what we carry. What if the cross could speak?
Today, I invite you to really spend some time thinking about the cross. What if the cross of Christ could speak, what would it say? What if the cross in the church could speak, what sort of stories would it tell? What if the cross in your house could speak, would it share a message of neglect or acknowledgement? So I ask you again, what does the cross mean to you? What is it trying to tell you?
Conclusion:
From the perspective of the cross, from Tim Tebow’s book, we read these words, “You see, for on my beams there was a price: not only a man’s death but a King’s sacrifice. He didn’t just die on one broken tree. The King came to defeat death, to set you free. And how ironic that I—the cross—once a symbol of pain, would now be a symbol of hope in Jesus’ name. What once brought fear now brings peace instead, for love poured out where His blood was shed. Through my wooden arms, the world can see the depth of God’s love for all humanity. So why should you trust or consider what I say? Because I was the closest thing to Jesus that day.”[14]
Although Easter has come and gone, I invite you to keep Easter close to your heart, specifically the cross. Don’t pack the meaning of the upper room, the denying of Peter, the palm branches, the road travelled, or the tomb away with the Easter Eggs and baskets and forget about them until next year. But keep them with you in this year. And don’t pack away the cross but instead find a way to make the meaning of the cross part of your life, part of what you do as a follower of Christ and as a church. “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross….”[15] Are you willing to cherish the old rugged cross in your life? What does that old rugged cross mean to you? You know, I wonder what the cross would say if could talk…
Let It Be So…
Closing Prayer:
Let us Pray… Dear Jesus, we cherish the old rugged cross not for what it looks like but for what it represents in our life. Your cross is a symbol of love, of forgiveness, of salvation, of surrender, of protection, of hope, of blessed assurance, of the gospel, and of the power of God working in our life. O Jesus, your cross saves us every day. Help us to go forth living out the meaning and salvation of the cross. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Benediction:
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true…” What does the cross mean to you? I invite you to live your life knowing that from the cross you have been healed and set free. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth sharing the meaning of the cross in your life and in the world. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.
[1] including Shaken, This Is The Day, and the children’s book Bronco and Friends.
[2] Tim Tebow, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All, Nashville, Tennessee: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc, 2026, pg. 126-127.
[3] Tim Tebow, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All, Nashville, Tennessee: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc, 2026, pg. 3.
[4] Tim Tebow, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All, Nashville, Tennessee: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc, 2026, pg. 3.
[5] Idiom: a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. rain cats and dogs, see the light)
[6] In Greek anagaion meaning upper room or cenaculum meaning dining room.
[7] Later on, according to the Book of Acts, the disciples—a total of 120—gathered at Pentecost in the upper room as they “were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).Also in the Book of Acts, we read that Paul, before departing Ephesus, is found preaching from within an upper room, in which someone falls asleep and tumbles out of the window (Acts 20:7-12). Later on, in Philemon, Paul requests that a guest room—an upper room—be prepared for him: “One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you” (Philemon 1:22). But even before the previously mentioned events in the Book of Acts, we read that it was in the upper room that Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection to greet them and show them his hands and his side (John 20:19-29), removing Thomas’ doubt (John 20:26-27), after saying “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36-49). Even before all these events, the upper room is where the prophet Elisha stayed: the room was furnished with a bed, table, chair, and a lamp (2 Kings 4:10). Today, the upper room is an object that changed the world because at one point it rejected Mary and Joseph—there was now room in the upper room (Luke 2:7)—but then it became a place that was available to Jesus, to the disciples, to the 120, and now available to us. At one point in time, the upper room, the kataluma, was a place of rejection but now is a place of acceptance: a place where one is able to accept the presence of Christ in their life.
[8] After Jesus spends time in the upper room and then prays in the Garden of Gethsemane as three of his disciples fall asleep, Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss (Mark 14:43-50).[8] It’s after this kiss that Jesus is turned over to the Roman authority and transported by night to the Praetorium, the palace, of King Herod where Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was staying.
[9] Tim Tebow, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All, Nashville, Tennessee: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc, 2026, pg. 4-9.
[10] Mark 15:25 and 33-34: It was nine in the morning when they crucified him…. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
[11] The Greek word for “cross” is σταυρός (stavros). It is derived from the Greek verb histēmi (root sta), which means “to stand,” highlighting its original meaning as a standing pole. Historically, stauros meant a simple upright stake, pole, or pile, but in the New Testament context, it is understood to mean the instrument of crucifixion, which was often a vertical stake with a crossbar (or sometimes a simple T-shape).
[12] Stephen Witmer, “Jesus Between the Criminals,” Desiring God, Published April 18, 2014, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/jesus-between-the-criminals Accessed April 7, 2026. As a side note, the website “Desiring God” notes, “While the Gospels do not name them, later tradition (such as the Gospel of Nicodemus) refers to the penitent thief as Dismas and the impenitent thief as Gestas.”
[13] What if we never packed away the tomb, or manger scene, but kept them out all year round?
[14] Tim Tebow, If the Tree Could Speak: The Story of the Cross that Saw It All, Nashville, Tennessee: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc, 2026, pg. 117-120.
[15] George Bennard, The United Methodist Hymnal, “Old Rugged Cross,” Nashville, Tennessee: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989, pg. 504.