11/01/2024
There is One - Christ Jesus: "X" Marks the Spot
In the infancy of the Christian church, a simple yet profound symbol emerged. The Christian fish, known as the Ichthys or Ichthus (Greek), was often drawn discreetly in the dirt or sand by early believers. It held within it a story of intersections: where the divine meets humanity, grace confronts sin, and good battles evil. It started with a point, a moment in Eden where the serene beauty of connected creation collided with the complex reality of free will, separation, and shame, setting in motion a saga of redemption.
That initial point in Eden sparked a traumatic division between God and his beloved humans. Two paths emerged, one toward the things above and one toward things below. Yet the trajectory of each line drawn in the sand also formed an arc destined to intersect a second time as an "X" or cross.
The upper arc represents the heavens bending towards earth, a testament to a Creator's love and the promise of divine intervention. It speaks of prophets and kings, laws given, and sacrifices made, a narrative arc bending through time toward an ultimate act of love.
The opposing arch represents humanity's journey. It is a tale of fall and redemption, of wandering and return. This arc speaks to our shared human experience – the struggles, the losses, and the yearning for something greater than ourselves. Yet, in its curve is hope, a gentle reminder that our stories are not defined by our falls but by a hope of resurrection, guided by divine grace.
At the heart of our story is the second intersection, the 'X' that marks the profound meeting of the divine and human in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Here, on the cross, the narrative of humanity and the sacred intertwine in an act of unparalleled "no greater love" and sacrifice. This intersection represents the moment when all that separated humanity from God was forever altered, where the course of history and the fate of every soul found a new direction.
For over 2,000 years, the cross remains more than a symbol; it's a beacon of hope, an anchor for faith, and a testament to love's power to transform. It piques our attention, appearing in our art, architecture, monuments, jewelry, and even branding many with tattoos, a constant reminder of the profound impact of Christ's sacrifice. It invites us to ponder, reflect, and align our lives with its transformative message. Even for nonbelievers, the cross holds a mystic message of hope "for even me" who is lost but can be found or blind but can one day see. It's a journey of continual transformation, of becoming beacons of light in a world that often dwells in shadows.
As images of the cross are imprinted on our minds or bodies or adorned in the form of jewelry, we pray that we also can be a chosen symbolic sepulcher (tomb) for Christ and carry within us the story of his resurrection.
"X Marks the Spot" is not just about historical intersections but about the crossroads in our lives. It's about the moments we meet the divine in our everyday experiences. The story of the cross is an invitation to a life of deeper meaning, of greater purpose, and of enduring hope - no matter who you are or where you come from.
"There is one, Christ Jesus, who can speak to your condition."
