Why the Cross Was Chosen

“He was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried; he descended into hell.” The apostle Paul teaches us that we ought to have “the eyes of our understanding enlightened,” “so that we may understand what is the height and breadth and depth.” “The height and breadth and depth” is a description of the cross. The part fixed in the earth he calls the depth; the height is the part set up on the earth and reaching upward; the breadth is the part stretched out to the right hand and to the left. There are so many kinds of death by which people may leave this life. Why, then, does the apostle want our understanding to be enlightened so that we may know the reason why, of them all, the cross was chosen for the Savior’s death? We must know, then, that the cross was a triumph. It was a glorious trophy. A triumph is a sign of victory over an enemy. Christ, when he came, brought three kingdoms at once under his rule, for this is what is meant when it is said, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth.” And he conquered all of them by his death. So a death was sought to match the mystery: lifted up into the air, and subduing the powers of the air, he might display his victory over these powers above nature and in the heavens. Moreover, the holy prophet says that “all day long he stretched out his hands” to the people on the earth, so that he might both bear solemn witness to unbelievers and invite believers. Finally, by the part sunk beneath the earth, he showed that he was bringing the kingdoms of the world below under his rule. [a]