On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, Americans will honor and celebrate Flag Day. Most countries spend lots of time and money designing their country’s flag to best portray to the world who they are as a nation. The American flag represents our country’s historical past, patriotic ideas and freedom.
The design and colors of the American flag were chosen to reflect the beliefs and values that our Founding Fathers deemed essential to building our nation. The 50 stars on the flag represent the individual states; the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and became the first states in the United States. The color red stands for hardiness, valor, courage, and readiness to sacrifice. At times it has been stated to represent the blood shed by those who have fought to protect our freedom and our country. White stands for purity and innocence. Purity, because of America’s independence from other countries and holding true to its ideals. Blue signifies justice for all, as well as vigilance and perseverance—a reminder to Americans to remain watchful and strong.
For Christians, the cross is a symbol that represents who they are, their beliefs, and their values. The cross symbolizes the atoning death of Jesus, who died for our sins and the sins of the world. When we see the cross, it should remind us of the sacrifice that was made for each one of us.
On the surface, Jesus’ death on the cross appeared to be a tragic event—an innocent man being put to death by the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders; however, believers known there is deeper understanding as to the reason Jesus died on that cross over 2,000 years ago. In Colossians, Paul helps us understand the significance of and what was happening in the spiritual realm when Jesus went to the cross.
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15
Jesus defeated the powers and authorities of evil by disarming them. In Matthew 27:26, it says, “Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” Prior to the cross, Jesus was scourged which in the Greek is the word “phragello,” and is one of the most horrific words used to describe what Jesus endured before He went to the cross to be crucified. Isaiah 52:14 gives us a glimpse as to what Jesus endured during His scourging. “Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men.”
When we reflect on the scourging Jesus received prior to the cross, we need to know about the promise God made in Isaiah 53:5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” and 1 Peter 2:24, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
While Isaiah prophesized into the future what would happen to Jesus, Peter spoke by what he knew happened and what Jesus’ physical appearance looked like after His scourging and death on the cross. Jesus willingly took our sins and died on the cross in our place. He also willingly took our sickness and pain on Himself when His body was broken and bruised paying and guaranteeing our healing!
The cross is a reminder of what Jesus did for us as well as a powerful symbol of the price Jesus paid for our redemption. Whether we wear it, display it or just think about it, the cross can, and should draw us nearer to the one who gave His life for us and paid for our sickness and pain!
~Donna Jones