Politics in Jesus' Time and Questions about the Cross
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: What group in Jesus' day believed Israel's problem could be solved by political change?
Also, the cross is central to the Christian faith. I need 5 descriptions of the cross and
explanations.

A: The Sadducees had the most political influence and were most likely to use it for their own
ends. This is shown clearly in the events leading to and including Jesus' trial. Since they were in a
position of power, they were most likely to maintain a working relationship with the Romans and
to curry favor among the general population in order to preserve and extend their influence.

Regarding the cross, 1) In general, a cross was a means of torture and capital punishment used in
Rome and elsewhere. It's purpose was to inflict maximum pain for the maximum amount of time
upon those judged to have committed especially heinous crimes or to have plotted against the
government and domestic order. Going beyond punishment, Rome also saw the cross as deterrent
since executions were public. Crucifixion was done upon a variety of frames, including +, T, and
X shapes as well as the picture in the minds of most Christians, the so-called "Latin" cross with its
small "t"shape. 2) The cross is that specific instrument which Jesus carried from Jerusalem and
upon which He was tortured and killed (see Lk 23:26ff and Heb 12:2). 3) The cross is
~metonymy~, a word standing for all associated with it. When Paul remarks that he doesn't want
the cross of Christ "emptied of its power" (1 Cor 1:17), he speaks of the free and full forgiveness
of sins which Christ won on the actual, physical cross. 4) The cross is used in connection with the
two trees of Eden (Gen 2:9), especially the Tree of Life. The liturgy for Holy Week includes this
in the Preface prayer: "On the tree of the cross You gave salvation to mankind that, whence death
arose, thence life also might rise again and that he [Satan] who by a tree once overcame likewise
by a tree might be overcome." 5) The cross is suffering and trial coming into a Christian's life
because of resistance to the Gospel. We often speak of "a cross we have to bear" as any trouble in
our lives. Yet Jesus' words in Matthew 16:24-25 show that He means the results of believing the
Gospel and living as believers: "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~<TM>,
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer,
by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations
into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international
copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."