Crucifixion and Resurrection

[novaseeker]

In reading revtj's response in the Episcopal thread, I was struck by something and wanted to respond without cluttering up that thread.

As I have been discussing these subjects on other blogs I have been amazed at christians who see the crucifixion as far more significant than the resurrection. Huh? One person replied to me Jesus' resurrection would have no meaning without his crucifixion.

It is hard for me to understand but it seems like a choice to ground their theological perspective in violence and death rather than in hope and new life. And the consequences seem to be that those obsessed with the crucifixion also have a shopping list of people they hate and people they reject. Sends a shiver up my spine!

Well … I think it’s a rather complicated thing. As someone raised in the Catholic Church but who spent the last several years (before I left the church a few years ago) as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I see it as an East/West issue.

It’s true that for a long time the idea of “substitutionary atonement” of one stripe or another held sway among much of Western Christianity. This is, I think, because of the influence of St. Augustine’s ideas on the Western church. As I understand it, Augustine was one of a handful of early church “fathers” who were from the Western church, and his influence in Western theology, including resurrection theology, has been significant until recent times. Particularly among more fundamentalist or conservative evangelical Christians, the idea of Christ’s redemptive suffering, in the gory details of it, as God’s suffering to atone for humanity’s sinfulness, seems to be a powerful image, and in fact for many Roman Catholics as well (hence the centrality of the Crucifix, the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, Mel Gibson’s film, etc.). This theology *can* emphasize the crucifixion, because it is the act of atonement itself, the suffering and death itself, that “justifies” humanity in the eyes of God – and hence it can be viewed by adherents of this theology as the central act of salvation, while Easter is a token of eternal life to come for those who unite themselves to Christ’s suffering and redemptive death. Now, I’m making it sound more gruesome than it is for most people, but it still *can* be a very crucifixion-focused theology. I've probably overstated the case here, and I expect that others will have more nuances as to how I've characterized things relating to this ... it's been a while for me since I've actually read much Western theology.

Based on my experience with Eastern Orthodox theology, my understanding is that the Eastern churches generally do not view the crucifixion in the light of an atonement theology at all (Augustine’s views did not take hold in the Eastern churches to any substantial degree), but rather in the light of their own view of Christology – such that, while they would agree that the resurrection would have no meaning without the crucifixion, the reason isn’t due to the atonement made possible by Christ’s redemptive suffering and death, but rather the idea that the resurrection provided the pivotal encounter between death and the deathless man (or, rather, the one man who could not be made subject to death, because of his immortal divine nature, per Orthodox Christology), thereby removing the power of death from those who are made like Christ through the grace of baptism, eucharist, transformative living, prayer, grace, etc. The idea isn’t that Christ “got us off the hook”, but rather that Christ transformed the act of death itself, and removed the permanence of its power from those who live “in” him, such that those who *do* live “in Christ” will experience death as Christ did – namely in a non-permanent way. So this kind of theology still sees the crucifixion as critical (for without Christ’s encounter with death, death could not have been vanquished), but doesn’t get into the gory details of it (the idea isn’t focused on redemptive suffering to the same degree, or the idea of encouraging people to feel guilty for Christ’s sacrifice), and focuses much more intently on the resurrection as the sign of the new life.

As the Easter hymn of the Orthodox Church says, in a way of summing up the Eastern approach to the crucifixion and resurrection:

“Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And on those in the tombs
Bestowing life.”

[tpdncr4christ]

The following is an exerpt from a story I've written... it might not make much sense since it is an alagory to the life of Christ. I've changed the names of the charecter's to make it easier to understand.

He looked toward the gate; through it came a man.


This man was cloaked, riding a small wingless white dragon. He rode along the street slowly, passing through the wall. The street was lined with dead and decaying trees, each looking as if it had scarcely survived many fires. In the shadows of the buildings on the edge of the street were eyes, millions of eyes each staring at the newcomer.

The wind picked up, cold but soft. The branches of the trees began to break off, falling in the man’s path. The dragon he rode continued through the street, not looking at anything but the path before him.

When the pair reached the pits the man dismounted and patted the dragon, his hooded face never leaving the other side of the bridge that stretched before him. The Lord’s eyes shifted to look at the other side of the bridge. Lucifer stood wearing black armor and a black cloak, smiling broadly. The man continued across the bridge. The dragon he rode stayed there, softly fading in the wind.

When the cloaked man reached the other side Lucifer placed a hand on his shoulder and led him through the homes. As the two walked people poured out of the doors and holes following them.

Lucifer began laughing, tormenting and mocking the hooded man. When they reached the shores Lucifer pushed him into the polluted water.

Leaping over the lake Lucifer glared at the hooded man saying, “You are the Son of God, are you not? Stand up and come to me.”

The hooded man was on all fours in the lake, staring into the water. Slowly he stood, staring back at Lucifer.

He stepped into the lake further. His knees buckled under an unseen weight. Again he stood and stepped further into the lake.

Lucifer drew a sword, his breathing becoming more intense. Glaring at the man he shouted, “Get over here now!”

The hooded man stepped further into the lake, tumbling downward so his face hit the water. The winds picked up and became harsh, blowing the waters in a torrent away from the tower. Again the man stood, this time his was cloak blown away with the winds.

Christ stood strong, facing Lucifer with a look of determination.

The Lord’s heart stopped.

Christ stepped farther into the lake, only rather than getting deeper he stepped up. Step by step he soon stood on top of the water. Walking across the water, Christ glanced slightly at his father, and then returned to Lucifer.

The Lord saw the crowd of people at the edge of the lake begin to swim after Christ. He moved closer.

Christ had reached Lucifer, standing before the people, ready to take what was handed to him.

“You.” Lucifer’s smile left his lips. “You will die today.”

Addressing the people, Lucifer roared.

“My children, my spawn, this is yours. Take it and eat. Eat for this is the body that is thrown at my doorstep.” The people cheered and screamed.

Lucifer faced Christ and sliced down his chest, and then across. He placed his hand on the wound, and turned back to the People. Holding his bloodstained hand in the air had screamed, “Take this and drink. Drink for this is the blood spilt on my clothes.”

With a sweep of his arm Lucifer sent Christ flying into the tower, causing the blackened base to crack. Christ was stuck to the tower with his arms wide-open, blood pouring from his chest.

The Lord broke through the crowd and looked at Christ. His heart finally shattered. Staring in to his son’s eyes he saw his reflection. A cloaked man, hooded and invisible, unnoticed, simply watching from the edge of the crowd.

He was no coward.

Raising his hands to remove his hood, the Lord glanced again at Christ. His son’s voice danced softly through the surge of shouting and mocking.

“Don’t.” Christ’s eyes pleaded, but his body stayed strong. “Forgive them.”

I show you this story because I think God was there, in the crowd, when Christ died. Christ could have easily destroyed the romans, he could have called upon a host of angels and what not, but he didn't. I'm sure that the Lord wanted more than anything to stop his son from dying that way. The thing about crucifiction is the pain. You don't die from bleeding, you die from suffacation. When your arms are pulled above your head like that, you cannot breathe, and to move your body up, to push with your feet or pull with your arms causes intense pain. Christ wouldn't have gone through that, God wouldn't have let His Son go through that, just because. I think that whether or not God wanted them, the people sacrificed things to Him. I think He wanted to make a point to the people that Christ was the last sacrifice.

The following is another peice I wrote. I find it shows the reason Christ died was valid. It isn't His death, or His resurection that matters. Its the hell he went through to make sure we didn't have too.

Heaven’s Path
The way is gone, the path is broken,
the tax is large, your life, the token.
But ere the light still shines, across the raging sea,
reach it you cannot, but the light you do see.

A silhouette upon the beach stands ‘tween the light and you;
a certain red her dress does take, an apple sort of hue.
Be weary of the chains that bind earth to your feet,
for she places shackles there when her fruit you eat.

For it is she who sees, why you walk the world,
her eyes see Fate’s loom, its threads untied, unfurled.
Your head hanging low, your lot you realize,
you cut her ending gaze, by closing jaded eyes.

But soft, the light grows brighter; its power seems to gain,
your wonder lifts sights higher, your smile comes again.
He wields no sword, no shield, no armor on His skin;
for He like you is human… He like you is kin.

She requires of Him reason, a message from the Light,
in answer He tells her, “Do not fight this fight.”
For, His body is a sacrifice, His hands and feet the mold;
a covenant is cast by Him, His blood to take the old.

And still she seeks a tax, a payment for your life;
His face takes on a smile, His effort peace, not strife.
She stands in front of you; she is ready for the end;
He merely steps around her, defeated, her knees bend.

He breaks your chains with nails and builds a bridge of wood;
moves aside the red dress, your place is understood.
When you ask Him why, He came into this place,
His answer is just this, “My love, is saving grace.”

He offers up a hand, to take it is your choice,
He seeks only your love, and to hear your voice.
In thought your eyes drift down, when the image does surprise,
your own body lies, you shan’t believe your eyes.

And yet it is a comfort, to be washed clean of sin,
to hold the truth to say, “Have died, and born again.”
So walk the bridge of wood I say, proclaiming loud His Grace!
Walk home swiftly friend … Walk home to see His face.
- AJ Turner

[Pablo Rafael]

I really shouldn't follow a post by Austin. After such profound thoughts anything I say will seem quite mundane. I am putting the poem and allegory in the "Austin" file I am saving on my computer. Austin, thanks for the inspiration. Also very cool picture of you in your profile. I can see an "out-of-the-box" attitude.



Well … I think it’s a rather complicated thing. As someone raised in the Catholic Church but who spent the last several years (before I left the church a few years ago) as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I see it as an East/West issue.


Brendan, (Did I remember your name right?),

With history being my favorite subject to teach I had to make a comment on your East/West point. I know what you're saying, "Here comes a long drawn out lesson from a history teacher." I won't ramble I promise!

You are right. If you look at the art of the Roman church, you see a lot of crucifixion art. (Also protestant churches which come out of the Roman tradition.) If you look at the Eastern Orthodox church, you see the Christ triumphant with outstretched arms to heaven, the universal Christ of all time. I can't think of a single Byzantine mosaic of the crucifixion.

We Roman Catholics, however, don't ignore the resurrection. The biggest church service of the year is the Easter Vigil late Saturday night. I think looking at things from different perspectives enriches a person's understanding of God and His work. Christ is indeed God triumphant. He is also the one who loved us enough to give His life. You can't have a complete picture without both.

I am a little uncomfortable with the "atonement" or "debt to be paid" idea of the crucifixion. I think those are terms and ideas put on it by humans to understand it easier. I think the reality is much greater and understood only by God; it is beyond our understanding.

Tu Amigo. Pablo

[BenL]

The whole journey of Holy week from Palm Sunday to Easter is a single seamless tapestry and the meanings echo back and forth between death and life, crucifixion and resurrection, weakness and power, judgement and grace.


This may seem trivial after the deep thinking of the previous posts, but I find it illustrative of your point, David. One of my favorite Easter hymns is "The strife is o'er." Some people object and say, "Oh, no, that's too melancholy for Easter." That's it exactly! It's Easter tinged with Good Friday but ending in Alleluia! Just as "O happy fault" is Good Friday already tinged with Easter.

And you're spot on about the tension. To me it's in the tension created by doctrine that God breaks through with revelation.

My paltry 2 cents, cuz now I have to get back to work, when I'd rather be discussing these things with you guys!

BenL

[novaseeker]

All interesting thoughts!

My own personal view is that of course both are to be seen in the context of the other, and that different emphases are of course, personal, I suppose ... whatever works best for someone's personal spirituality, I think.