6 May | Youth
«For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.» 1 Corinthians 1:18
The word “swastika” derives from the Sanskrit language and means “good luck” or “well- being.” It is a mystical symbol in the shape of a cross, whose rods have curved or angular ends.
The cross with two intertwined hooks dates back 5,000 years and can be found in different cultures, with different styles and meanings.
Among Buddhists and Hindus, it represented happiness, good luck, or salvation. This same cross, with arms facing the right side, was adopted as the official logo of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party. This symbol, which represented meditation and contemplation, was transformed into a synonym for destruction in the Second World War.
What a contrast between the swastika and the cross of Jesus! The early Christians gloried in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14) because it reveals “the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Invented by the Romans, the cross was the cruelest instrument of torture in ancient times. Many crucified men hung for days, suffering superhuman pain. Hemorrhage, broken bones, suffocation, and cramps were part of the horrendous repertoire of crucifixion, not to mention the presence of flies, mockery, and extreme shame.
The Romans reserved crucifixion for rebels and the worst thieves. During the siege of Jerusalem, General Titus crucified so many fugitives from the city that no space could be found for the crosses, nor crosses for the bodies. Roman citizens, except in extreme cases of treason, were exempt from crucifixion. Cicero mentioned: “To bind a Roman citizen is a crime, to flog him is an abomination, to kill him is almost an act of murder: to crucify him is – What? There is no fitting word that can possibly describe so horrible a deed” (John Stott, The Cross of Christ, p. 24).
By receiving this type of punishment, Jesus reached the final point of condemnation. He did “become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). But why did He do this? Because He loves us. He preferred to die rather than spend eternity away from us.
While Hitler tarnished the meaning of the swastika, Jesus transformed the meaning of the cross. What meant death became a symbol of life. What was defeat, Jesus turned into victory.