The Meaning of the Cruciform

This is a story of God’s grace for all people. The suffering of Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son, is a picture of the love of Christ broken and poured out for all humanity. For you, and for me. Everyone! The Cruciform located at the front of Christ United Methodist Church tells the story of Christ’s love.

The center cross represents Jesus being crucified between two thieves. The cross on the right as you face the cruciform represents the thief who confessed his faith in Christ. There are two cross bars from the center staff to this staff. This indicates Jesus reached out to him in love, and he accepted it. The cross on the left represents the thief who rejected Jesus. The one bar going from the center staff to the left staff indicates Jesus reached out to him in love, but he refused it.

The rocks at the base of the cross indicate all people are invited to receive God’s gift of love. The variety of color, shape, and size of the rocks represent the diversity of people coming to Christ. The twelve large stones surrounding the cross represent Jesus’ disciples. The cruciform represents Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is the symbolic meaning of God’s gift of grace for all humanity.

Scripture Foundation for the Story of the Cruciform

Luke 23:32-34, 39-43

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Jesus. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”