Crucifixion
(or impalement), in one form or another, was also used by Persians,
Carthaginians, and Macedonians.
Notorious mass crucifixions followed the Third Servile War in 73–71 BC
(the slave rebellion under Spartacus), and other Roman civil wars in the 2nd
and 1st centuries BC.
Many
Christians today believe that we should do away with the symbols of our modern
celebration of Easter. They say that these
symbols are non-Christian in origin. And,
yes, some of those symbols are too much of a stretch to associate with this
Holy Day; but not all of them. Even so,
when you see a lamb, Easter baskets & bunnies, and the cross at Easter-time,
people do think of Easter. This can lead
them to at least think of Jesus. And
this can lead to a Christian’s opportunity to witness to those in need of the
Gospel.
Many
are saying we should not associate any of these symbols with the Death and Resurrection
of Christ, that they are pagan in origin. So, since the cross was originally a symbol of
execution (non-Christian), is it also wrong to think, & display, it as the
symbol of Christ?
I
say, NO! Think of all the parables of
Jesus, who used “symbols” in the Bible. Jesus used ordinary things -
non-religious stuff - to illustrate Biblical truths: new & old cloth, new & old wineskins,
lamp on a stand, fig tree, seeds in the
ground , weeds, mustard seed, yeast, pearl of great price, sheep, sheep gate,
lost sheep, lost (prodigal) son, lost coin, rich man & Lazarus, Pharisee
and tax collector, wicked tenants, wedding banquet, and more.
Jesus used whatever he needed for the group
to whom he was ministering to get His point across. So why can’t we?
I took these pictures in 2010 at The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida.
