there is death

for most people, the initial interpretation of the cross symbol is simply a representation of any Christ- based religion.  the cross' use in jewelry, Christian posters, clothing, and other items have made it unbelievably ubiquitous (even more so than the chrome- colored Christian fish).  with this overuse comes a numbness to its meaning and a lack of understanding.  even Christians can lose a genuine understanding of the Cross (guilty).  sometimes we get it half- right by remembering Christ died and was the atonement for our sins, was the ultimate sacrifice, cleansed our souls...  (ever wonder how meaningful words can sound so meaningless?). we got it. Christ died. but what we don't get is how Christ died. He endured more pain than we could ever hope or ever want to understand. He suffered not only physically but what ridiculed and scoffed at by those who had just welcomed Him with joyful cries and waving branches just a few days earlier. not to mention betrayed by one who was supposed to be one of His closest friends. i imagine that the anxiety that Christ felt in anticipation of what he knew he was about to experience. i'll even bet that Christ was hoping God was giving Him a test similar to Abraham, who at the last second was given a way out of the sacrifice he was told he had to give. nonetheless, Christ endured what He had to, all the while thinking of those he loved the most.