Good morning…
“Hi Sue!” she emailed after yesterday’s blog post. “I absolutely love this statue! I wish this were our symbol for Christ! Risen and victorious rather than defeated hanging on the cross. I heard a priest say one time that wearing a cross as a symbol of Jesus is kind of like wearing a symbol of an electric chair. It is a weird thought but also true in a way.”
“I think I like the image of His arms stretched out and up better than them stretched out and limp:)” she mused. “Just thought I would share.”
Her thought spurred me to get out my phone, to go downstairs, and to snap a picture of my own favorite image of Christ. Excitedly, I emailed her the photo below.
“Great to hear from you,” I replied. “I love your thought about the risen Christ statue. I also took a picture for you of a miniature statue of the image of Christ I love the most. Jesus hanging on the cross and tangibly handing to us the gift of the Holy Spirit. This image is so life-giving to me.”
While on earth, Jesus described the gift of the Holy Spirit: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you] (John 16:7, AMP).
Jesus continued: “But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power. You will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces —even to the remotest places on earth!” (Acts 1:8, TPT).
Jesus explained: “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!” (John 14:12, TPT).
Enjoying close fellowship, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives on in us. We are uniquely empowered to share God’s healing power in our home, our community, and even to the remotest places on earth.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:14-21, NIV).
For me, incredibly expansive healing power is extended to each of us through this tiny, tender image of Christ on the cross.
…Sue…
