A place where death is transformed

Jesus taught us:  "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."  (Matthew 16:24-25)  Therefore, our cross has no image of any one person, not even Jesus, because Jesus taught us that there is a cross for everyone who would follow him.

The cross is a tool of death.  Even as Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, he teaches that in following him we must die to oursleves.  Self-interest is not how Jesus lived his life, nor is it the way to live our lives if we seek to emulate Jesus' values and goals.  Therefore, in the cross, every Christian is reminded of the call to die to self.  For this reason, our cross has two beams of oak - quite heavy enough to serve as a cross which is a means of death.

Jesus transformed the cross, but not in his dying - lots of people have died on crosses.  Jesus' transformation of the cross is a result of his resurrection!  He reveals in his own death and resurrection a central mystery of our faith:  "Those who lose their life for my sake will find it."  The world teaches us that death leads to being dead.  Jesus teaches us that death leads to our discovering and truly possessing life.  For this reason, our cross has two "beams" of branches in which vines and flowers are woven - symbols of life.

Finally, our cross has arms of equal length.  This form is known historically as a "Jerusalem Cross".  Our cross is in this form to convey the equality and balance between our calling to die to self and our promise that we shall find our life.  Jesus is followed when we die to self and discover life.  This mystery, its juxtaposition and balance, has ever invited people to repent - turn from - what lives we had, and believe in the gospel - the good news - and embrace the lives we discover in Jesus. 

This cross is presented to Northwest Community Church
in memory of Ed and Gloria Dickelman
by their daughter, Linda,
her husband, Ed,
and their family.