Yfaith - What does the cross mean to you?

What does the cross mean to you?

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Why do people make sacrifices? It’s normally because they know that something good would come from it – either for themselves or others.

Crucifixion
The worst criminals
How did it work?
Jesus's death

Crucifixion was first used as a method of punishment about 600 years before Jesus lived, and it was still used until the Roman emperor Constantine banned it in AD 337..

It was a method of execution used by the Romans to punish slaves, foreigners and criminals of the worst sort, such as traitors or deserters from the army. It was considered shameful, as the victims were left to die in public, they were often naked, and sometimes it took days.

Victims of crucifixion had spikes driven through their wrists, attaching them to a cross beam, which was then attached to an upright bar.
The way the body left hanging meant that the victims slowly suffocated. If it was taking too long, they would have their legs broken to speed things up.

Jesus died very quickly – probably because he had been so badly beaten up before he was put on the cross.

What would you give to protect those you love?
How do you feel about someone dying in order to protect you?

Why did Jesus have to die?
God gives life. so when we do things our way not God’s (when we sin), and we’re separated from God, we’re cutting ourselves off from life. That means sin is connected to death.

Jesus paid the price for all our sins on the cross, because he loved us.

It wouldn't have mattered if YOU were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have died, just for you.

The big swap
Jesus swapped his goodness for everything we’ve ever done wrong. In John’s Gospel it says whoever believes in Jesus is asopted by God as his daughter or son and is loved by God like he loves Jesus.

Jesus beats death
BUT…the Crucifixion was not the end for Jesus! He was buried and was in the tomb for 3 days… but then his tomb was found to be empty… then over the next 40 days, over 500 people saw him alive again! God had raised him from the dead to show us that he was stronger than death, and that because of what Jesus did for us, he will raise us up

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priest

In the Catholic Church we have the opportunity to go to see a priest to confess our sins, this is what we call ‘reconcilliation’.

The priest, in the place of Jesus, forgives our sins, and sometimes gives us tips on how not to sin again.

girl smiling

‘Talking to the priest is never as bad as I think it will be, and it makes me happier afterwards’
(Amy, 12)

‘When I leave confession I feel free’
(Nik, 13)

If there’s something troubling you – something that you have done and feel guilty for, or something that has happened to you and has left you feeling bad, you can give it to Jesus right now. Because he loves you, he wants to take all your sins, your worries and fears and carry them for you to the cross.

Take a moment to be still. Tell Jesus what it is that troubles you, and ask Him to take it from you.

As a symbol of letting it go, you can write whatever it is in the box below and send it as a message to Jesus, as if you are giving it to Him.

Nobody will know this, it will be a secret between you and Him.

You may like to give thanks to Jesus through prayer.

Jesus, thank you that you died for me. Thank you for your love.
Help me to start anew, and to follow you always.