The Old Covenant shows the relationship between God and His carnal people, who are born of the seed of Israel. Many times, we read about how God’s people started right but as they went on their way, they left the words of God and didn’t go His way but compromised and adopted the pagan cultures and occult practices and therefore allowed things in their lives and the land, which were an abomination to God and defiled their lives and land. This also happened with the brass serpent on the pole, which was worshiped, honored, and idolized by the people. Unfortunately, the same thing has happened with the cross. Because as the serpent of brass was worshiped, honored, and idolized by God’s people in the Old Covenant, many Christians worship the cross and have idolized the cross in the New Covenant. How do Christians worship and idolize the cross? What does the Bible say about the worship of the cross?
God’s people worshiped the brass serpent instead of God
In the Old Testament in Numbers 21:4-9, we read about the sin of God’s people, the punishment of God, and the salvation of God through the brass serpent on the pole (Read also: Why was the serpent of brass a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death on the cross?).
The people of God didn’t leave the brass serpent on the pole in the wilderness, but they took the brass serpent with them into the promised land as a witness and a remembrance of what happened in the wilderness.
But instead of the brass serpent on the pole would be a witness for God’s people and a remembrance of what happened in the wilderness for God’s people, and the following generations would be remembered of the rebellious behavior of the people, their sin and the consequences of their sin, and how God brought salvation through the brass serpent on the pole, to those, who obeyed the words of God and looked upon the brass serpent and therefore they would fear God and stay faithful to God and the people thanked, worship and eulogized God, the brass serpent was worshiped, honored and idolized by the people.
The people burned incense to the brass serpent on the pole, which was called Nehushtan, and so the object became an idol to the people and the people did what was evil in the sight of God.
Hizkia destroyed the brass serpent
He (Hizkia) removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses (2 Koningen 18:4-6)
King Hizkia walked in obedience to God in His ways and kept His commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses, and therefore Hizkia did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just like his father David.
Hizkia dealt with the idolatry and pagan rituals and customs and occult practices of the people. Hizkia removed the high place, broke the images and cut down the groves, and broke the brass serpent, which Moses made, in pieces, so that they couldn’t burn incense to the brass serpent and worship and idolize the brass serpent.
You would think, that people learn from history, but many times that’s not the case. At least, not with the old carnal man, who is unspiritual. Because as the brass serpent was an object of worship and became an idol to the people, likewise the cross has become an object of worship and an idol to many Christians.
Many Christians worship the cross instead of Jesus Christ
Throughout the ages, including this age, many Christians have acted in the same manner as the people of Israel and worshiped the cross (the object) instead of God. But the cross may never become an object of worship. The cross may never become an idol in the lives of Christians.
Instead of honoring and worshiping Jesus Christ, the cross (as an object) is honored and worshiped.
The cross is worshiped by kneeling and praying in front of the cross, celebrating the cross, making the sign of the cross on themselves, kissing the cross, wearing the cross as an ornament, using the cross as a talisman for protection, to turn away evil and against demonic powers and to cast out demons and deliver people, etc.
Many Christians have idolized the cross and often have more faith in the cross (the visible object) and expect it from the cross (the object), than having faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work and expecting it from Him.
But the cross has no power and may never become an object of worship and an idol.
Many people have been crucified throughout the ages and nothing special happened with any one of them. They were crucified and died. There has only been one occasion that had an impact on humanity and made a change in creation and that was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and His redemptive work.
Therefore Jesus Christ must be worshiped, honored, and eulogized and the cross must be remembered, this means the redemptive work on the cross should be remembered, because the blood of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work has power.
The preaching of the cross
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (Galatians 6:12-15)
That’s what Paul meant, when he spoke about the preaching of the cross. Paul didn’t wear a cross and didn’t use a cross, but Paul preached the cross of Christ.
Paul didn’t speak about the cross as an object of worship and idolatry, but Paul spoke about what had taken place on the cross, and that the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross may never be forgotten or done away. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God, revolves around the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and His blood, which He shed for humanity, is beside the creation of heaven and earth, and all there is within, the greatest work of God.
What happened on the cross, how Jesus became the Substitute for fallen mankind and took all the sins and iniquities of mankind upon Himself and was made sin, and bore the punishment for sin, which is death, in His flesh, so that everyone who would believe in Jesus Christ and become born again in Him (the death of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the death) would be cleansed by His blood of all their sins and iniquities and be reconciled with God, is the most important event for humanity
If Christians would comprehend the redemptive work of Christ, they would no longer be silent, but they would preach the truth, so that many souls would be delivered from death and saved from hell and be reconciled with God.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
