Why do Catholics still have Jesus hanging on the cross?

What’s the most common symbol that you see when you go to church? It’s the cross right? I have been hearing and reading questions regarding this matter and have decided to write something about it. I would like to make an appeal to everyone regarding this matter to have an ‘Open Mind’ so that each and every opinion of ours be heard and let there be unity in diversity for each of us. We are united in our faith towards Jesus Christ; let us all be disciples in each of our own way. Please leave a comment or any reaction regarding this matter with respect and your values.  Here, I would like to emphasize on the question: Why do Catholics still have Jesus hanging on the cross? 

In every Christian community, the foundation of our faith lies on the new covenant that God made when He sent His son our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only did He make a new covenant, He showed us the beautiful beatitudes, enriched us with His unfathomable wisdom and teachings, His great Sacraments, and most of all, He died for us on the cross and redeemed the whole world.

I am a Catholic, and I respect each religion or sect regarding this. I do not consider myself as a perfect all knowing Christian, but I regard my answer as correct for this is what I believe in and where my faith lies. I respect each of your own views and if you will, I would like to express my honest opinions/thoughts with this.

In my last post “Praising and kissing statues, is it a sin?” I have stated that symbols and statues which we see in the church are mere reminders of the lives portrayed by each image. In relation to this, ‘The Crucifix’ is a symbol of redemption and salvation which is used by many churches and many Christian Organizations.  Jesus ‘still’ hanging on the cross does not mean that we are continuing His persecution. It is a reminder for us Catholics on how much He loves us.  

The Distinction

A 'Cross' is very different from a 'Crucifix'. By definition, from wikipedia, the 'Cross' or 'Christian cross', seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity while a 'Crucifix' (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for "body"), as distinct from a cross with no body.

Every time we see Jesus Christ on the cross, we are reminded about God’s good plans for all of us from the very beginning. He fulfilled all His promises even if it means sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be sacrificed. He rose from the dead and is seated in the right hand of our Father, but that event did not open the Gates of Heaven for us, His sacrifice on the cross did. Through His sacrifice on the cross, “The Perfect Lamb” has been offered, prophesies fulfilled, the old covenant destroyed and a new covenant made. 

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

-Isaiah 53:5

It was also written on the scriptures that Jesus wants His people to lift an image of Him so that everytime we are down or in a midst of distress in this world, we look at Him and believe that your trouble is a little smaller compared to the trouble He had opening the Gates of Heaven for us:

"The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

-Numbers 21:8-9

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him."

-John 3:14-15

Looking at our Lord Jesus Christ being crucified may not be very pleasing to look at, but it shows what we have done as a sinner and what He did to cleanse us.

WRAP UP:

Crucifixion is an ancient method of deliberately slow and painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden "cross" and left to hang until dead. The Cross is the instrument used for crucifixion. Jesus Christ was not the only one who was crucified at that time. Among those who were crucified were criminals and wrong doers. He wasn't among those. The Cross with Jesus Christ on it not only remind us of the fulfillment of the prophecies but also the salvation of Mankind.

Born in Humility.

Returning in Glory. 

God bless us all.

For reactions, suggestions and your own opinions, please leave a comment below with respect and values. Thank you!