This story just in from NY Times, the (ahem) paper of record (not)
Thieves Take Figure of Jesus, but Not the CrossWho made off with Jesus?
The question hung in the air of the Church of the Holy Cross in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday after caretakers noticed that a 200-pound plaster rendering of Christ had been removed from a wooden cross near the church's entrance.
Three weeks after a metal money box disappeared from a votive candle rack at the church, the fact that a statue was stolen was less surprising than how it was stolen.
"They just decided, `We're going to leave the cross and take Jesus,' " said David St. James, 49, a caretaker who helps maintain the sacristy of the church, on 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. "We don't know why they took just him. We figure if you want the whole crucifix, you take the whole crucifix."
I don't understand the motivation of someone to do this. And while I don't support thievery on any level, I DO support taking Jesus off the cross! When Christ died on the cross, it was for our freedom. He died and that was that. He rose again, and He was not on the cross any longer. The very POINT of the empty cross is that Jesus is NOT there any more. He is Risen! He is ALIVE!
It bothers me that many traditional "churches" keep Jesus on the cross, figuratively speaking. Instead of reminding people of the victory we now have over death and the penalty of our sin, keeping Jesus on the cross reminds us of our guilt. I understand some people like it, but MY Jesus is no longer on the cross. Thank God.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
August 25, 2003 12:34 PM
Yes our Lord is Alive! And yes, He Is Risen! But I believe the reason that most people put a statue up of Jesus On the cross, is to depict the wondrous love He has for us. When you think of how he literally laid down His life, so that we might have eternal life, well, it's awesome to say the least. No, Jesus is not still on the cross, but the work that He did there comes alive every time someone comes to salvation, Praise The Lord!
August 25, 2003 12:52 PM
I think Buddy Christ is the answer.
August 25, 2003 01:38 PM
As I look at this practically, I think the thievies intended to take the cross but
it was too heavy or maybe they couldn't get it down.WE can only pray they return the statue!
I feel we"ll here more of this story.Oh how our
Lord works in mysterious ways!!
August 25, 2003 04:08 PM
It just dawned on me that in order to take Jesus off the cross, the two thieves probably stood on either side of Him. How ironic that Jesus was nailed on the cross between two thieves... Perhaps one of these will come to the Lord and be in paradise one day? ;-)
August 25, 2003 08:15 PM
They have taken Christ Jesus our LORD and SAVIOR,but we cannot forget the Cross where he died at Calvery for all of us,so that we might be saved,and have everlasting Life.So we will dwell in Paradise forever with him.Just stop and think how it must have felt ,when they drove those nails in his hands and feet,and put a Crown of thorns on his head.And to hang that way until he gave it up for us.How many of us would suffer like that?Are you ashamed to let any one know about Jesus,If you are ,theen he will not reconize you,you have to realize that Jesus did die on the Cross,so you can not forget the cross.
August 29, 2003 02:28 AM
I asked a priest about the crucifex and the cross. He said Protestants have gone on to Easter Sunday and Catholics are still at Holy Friday. I have no problems with the crucifex. When I look at it I am reminded of what Jesus went through for me and it makes me love Him all the more. The empty cross is also good to remind us that Jesus rose from the dead. I think we need both. The empty cross doesn't tell us the whole wonderful story though, just the ending. Like reading only the ending of a book. How can we appreciate the ending if we don't read the whole story. I love Jesus more for seeing and being reminded of what He did for me so I can have eternal life. The Passion is a very important part of His life. If it wasn't for the Passion there would have been no Reserrection. It also reminds us that people are still putting Jesus on the cross when they sin and deny Him. The crucifex is a symbol as is the empty cross. Both are reminders of reality but both are equally important.
August 30, 2003 01:35 AM
My continued thoughts on this--isn't the empty cross not the true sign of Christ's Reserrection but the empty tomb? The women did not go to the empty cross to finish the Jewish tradition of preparing the body for burial but to the tomb. They found the empty tomb and knew Jesus had risen from the dead as the angel there told them. So the progression of Christ's death is the crucifex and then the empty tomb. The symbol of Easter is the empty tomb. The bare cross only says Jesus was taken down from the cross but nothing of the Resurrection.
September 20, 2003 06:23 AM
The movie the Passion of which you speak ofter will explain why we still have Jesus on the cross.... That action, that sacrafice, that ultimate give and laying down His life for all mankind. Those three hours, that GOOD FRIDAY is the crux of what salvation is all about. If we want to forget the great suffering Jesus went through then should we then forget what that salvation brought us, our salvation. That is the same thinking you have had for years, the greatest sacrament Jesus gave us was the Eucharist, His body and Blood at the alter. He instructed us to do this often. Those who left the Catholic Church to start their own religions left that Sacrifice also, only recently did many of the Protestant Churches begin again to celebrate Communion with Christ Jesus. But to me as a Catholic, I believe it is truly the same Passion, Complete, Dying, Suffering and Ressurection as it was 2000 years ago. You can't bake a cake without first getting the flour, the eggs, the milk, and all the ingredience, after going through the labor you then have the prize, the very tasty cake.... Bury me with a fork in my hand, I'm ready for the best.
Francis Xavier
November 5, 2003 12:38 PM
gladiola, you are sad and lacking in spirit. I wish I could comfort you. Please remember not to deny the Holy Spirit when you are offered the comfort of it in your darkest moments
April 4, 2004 07:26 PM
I think this web shows alot of info but this web site needs to tell more.
April 8, 2004 03:57 AM
The life, death and reserrection of Jesus is the gospel. It is not so much that we spend too much time regarding his death, it is that we spend too little time regarding his reserrection.
His death is no less importance, if we dwell on it! His reserrection is no less importance, if we do not dwell on it. Our loss is when we spend too little time regarding, understand and following, the teaching of the raisen living Jesus! His teaching/ministry before & after reserrection is not followed in our dailey life.
We are missing the mark in that we fail to obey Jesus' teahing.
April 28, 2004 01:51 PM
I was a young child. Without being told,
I realized that the Resurrection was
embedded in Christ's cross. Something like the gift of infused understanding. That was purely grace—and the meaning of Atonement
for me. Jesus cannot be separated from
his complete work, which includes the
Ressurection. It's all there.
December 1, 2004 12:15 PM
this is completly insane what ur talking about ur basicaly saying is that the apocolypse is apon us aand that jesus is around again u guys need to check yourselves into mental institutions asap
December 1, 2004 12:21 PM
i agree that this is completly insane and that u guys really really really need mental help because what u are saying is hat im gonna die soon so u guys and go and get lives and then go to the mental institutions but if lives are to expensive for u go to k-mart where there's a sale on lives
p.s if u want to call me my number is 1-800- lick-me
August 30, 2005 03:01 PM
Crane. they've cut you off.
February 22, 2008 10:45 AM
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing from the Word of God"(Romans, 10:17)
Dear Brother in Christ,
Greetings from Pakistan.
I am John Victor from Pakistan. I have studied your web site, and I found it the most wonderful site to get right to the True Word of God. I found that all your material is full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in Pakistan we Christians is to face many obstacles to get the access to the Word of God. Most of the people in Pakistan are not capable to understand the English language. It's because our national language is Urdu. My suggestion for you is to create your material in my language of Urdu and Punjabi also. It will bring lots of blessings of the Word of God for the Pakistani and Indian Urdu and Punjabi speaking people. For that purpose I as a translator will bring your material into Urdu languages and into Punjabi language as well. Although it will take your low expenses as well, as fund for the Word of God to reach out to the deserving people. As a translator I will take the expenses that will be spending just for the Word. I will be looking for your kind words on this my humble request as soon as possible.
"There is nothing more precious than to read and listen the Word of God into your own language."
Sincerely,
John Victor (Pakistan). Email: johnvictor95@yahoo.com
August 20, 2008 01:39 PM
Many people believe Christ did not really die, that He did not really suffer for our sins. The Crucifix shows in graphic detail that Christ did indeed suffer and die... for us, each and every one of us. The cross was a common Roman form of execution. Without Christ the cross is meaningless to us today.
"We preach Christ, and Christ crucified. Which is foolishness to the Greek and a stumbling block to the Jew".