Luther can still make us laugh out loud with his observations and critiques. His works are also overflowing with spiritual and practical wisdom, comfort, and hope.
His positive references to the "holy and blessed cross" can be quite annoying and perplexing. One factor is the connection with the extreme piety of Roman Catholicism, which often morphs into spectacular displays and even morbid self-torture.
But the meaning of the cross in Luther's works is they key to much of life. Perhaps we have to live a few extra decades to learn that. The cross is opposition, hatred, revenge, difficulties, and pain connected directly to the Gospel Word.
Victories can be defeats, but defeats can become victories. How many glorious church buildings, fellowship halls, and parochial school gyms were dedicated with joy and decorated with festive banners - and now gather cobwebs with FOR SALE signs?
The success industry has greatly influenced us all to think in terms of setbacks leading to wealth, popularity, and a book contract. But the cross is the opposite, so we understand why the healing of the lepers is such a great miracle. Lepers were not only weak and sick, but shunned by society, having the ignominy of being driven away lest others catch the disease.
The blessed and holy cross teaches that the Gospel brings to us exactly what it brought to the Savior - constant opposition, hatred, sorrow, and dismay. Even before Jesus' arrest, trial, torture, and death, He saw the mixture of faith and fear, joy and glory-mongering in His disciples. The concise Gospel of Mark reveals this in the three Passion Predictions - chapters 8, 9, and 10 - each one followed by the most outrageous responses of his future apostles. After all, only one disciple was at the cross.
KJV Mark 8
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
34 και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ελθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
In retrospect, we can see that every episode of the cross in the public ministry of Christ was significant in teaching us. We have a test, a standard by which to measure life. The cross/crown symbol can be found in wood carvings and stained glass windows in Europ and even in America - no cross, no crown.
The cross is definitely found in relation to the Gospel and ingratitude, opposition, and vindictive revenge. But those experiences also show us how the cross bears fruit in sharing the spiritual treasures of the Gospel Word. The cross is God's energy, so the cross is also God's victory over materialism, self-centeredness, and arrogance.
