Journey to Pascha Series - Lesson #17: The THIRD Sunday of Lent: The Veneration of the Cross

Biblical Allusions to the Cross in the Old and New Testaments

The Cross of Christ, though revealed fully in the New Testament, is prefigured throughout the Old Testament in various symbols, prophecies, and foreshadowings. The New Testament then fulfills and unveils the true meaning of the Cross, showing it as the instrument of our salvation.

I. Old Testament Foreshadowings of the Cross

The Old Testament contains types and prophecies that point to the Cross as a means of deliverance, redemption, and divine power.

1. The Tree of Life (Genesis 2:9, 3:22-24)

• In Genesis, God plants the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden.
  
  

• After the Fall, humanity is barred from it because of sin.
  
  

• The Fathers interpret the Cross as the new Tree of Life, through which mankind regains access to eternal life in Christ.
  
  

Patristic Insight:

• St. Ephraim the Syrian: "The Cross is the Tree of Life, whose fruit brings life to those who partake of it."
  
  

2. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14)

• Abraham is commanded to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah.
  
  

• Isaac carries the wood of his own sacrifice, just as Christ carries His Cross.
  
  

• Instead of Isaac, a ram is sacrificed, prefiguring Christ, the Lamb of God, who would die in our place.
  
  

3. The Bronze Serpent in the Wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9)

• The Israelites, suffering from snake bites, are commanded to look upon a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, and they are healed.
  
  

• Jesus directly connects this to His Crucifixion:
  
  "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
  
  

4. The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-14)

• The blood of the Passover lamb is applied to the doorposts and lintel (forming the shape of a cross) to protect the Israelites from death.
  
  

• Jesus is called "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
  
  

• The Cross becomes the true "doorway" to salvation through Christ’s blood.
  
  

5. The Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-30)

• Moses stretches out his staff (symbolizing the Cross), and the waters part, delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt.
  
  

• Through the Cross, we pass from slavery to sin into new life in Christ.
  
  

6. The Bitter Waters Made Sweet (Exodus 15:22-25)

• The Israelites find bitter water in the wilderness, but when Moses throws a piece of wood into it, the water becomes sweet.
  
  

• This wood symbolizes the Cross, which transforms suffering into salvation.
  
  

7. The Sign on the Foreheads (Ezekiel 9:4-6)

• The prophet Ezekiel sees a vision in which a mark is placed on the foreheads of the righteous to protect them from destruction.
  
  

• The word for "mark" (Tav, ת) in ancient Hebrew was written as a cross shape (†), foreshadowing the Cross as the sign of salvation.
  
  

8. The Psalms and Prophecies of the Crucifixion

• Psalm 22:16 – "They pierced My hands and My feet." (A prophecy of Christ’s Crucifixion)
  
  

• Isaiah 53:5 – "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities... and by His stripes, we are healed." (The Suffering Servant)
  
  

II. New Testament Fulfillment of the Cross

The Cross is revealed in the New Testament as the center of God’s plan for salvation.

1. Jesus’ Direct Predictions of His Crucifixion

• Matthew 16:24 – "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."
  
  

• John 12:32 – "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself."
  
  

• Luke 9:22 – "The Son of Man must suffer many things… be killed, and on the third day be raised."
  
  

2. The Crucifixion and the “King of Glory”

• Matthew 27:37 – The sign above Christ reads "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
  
  

• The Cross is not a symbol of defeat, but the throne of the King of Glory.
  
  

3. The Veil of the Temple Torn in Two (Matthew 27:51)

• When Jesus dies, the veil of the Temple is torn, symbolizing that through the Cross, mankind now has direct access to God.
  
  

4. St. Paul’s Theology of the Cross

• 1 Corinthians 1:18 – "For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
  
  

• Galatians 6:14 – "But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
  
  

• Philippians 2:8-9 – "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a Cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him."
  
  

5. The Cross as the Fulfillment of Old Testament Types

• Hebrews 9:12 – Christ enters the heavenly sanctuary "not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption."
  
  

• Colossians 2:14-15 – "Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us… He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross."
  
  

III. Conclusion: The Cross as the Center of Salvation History

The Cross of Christ is not an afterthought—it is the central event of salvation history, foretold throughout the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.

• The Old Testament presents the Cross in symbols and prophecies—the Tree of Life, Isaac’s sacrifice, the bronze serpent, the Passover lamb, and the Psalms of the Suffering Servant.
  
  

• The New Testament reveals that Christ embraces the Cross as the means of redemption, showing that death itself is conquered through sacrifice.
  
  

The Cross stands as the Tree of Life restored, the door to salvation, and the instrument of Christ’s victory over sin and death. As the Apostle Paul declares:

"We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

Thus, through the Cross, joy has come into the world, and all who take up their cross follow Christ into the glory of His Resurrection.

Hymnography on the  Life-Bearing Cross

Tone 5   (from the Lenten Triodion)      

Shine, O Cross of the Lord!

Illumine the hearts of those who honor you!

With love inspired by God, we embrace you,

for you are the only hope of the world.

Through you our tears are wiped away,

the snares of death are sprung,

and we pass over into everlasting joy.

Through the Cross reveal Your beauty to us, O Lord!

Help Your servants who ask for mercy in faith!//

Bestow upon us the fruits of abstinence!

 

Rejoice, O life-bearing Cross:

bright paradise of the Church, the tree of incorruption!

You have obtained for us the joy of everlasting glory.

Through you, the hosts of demons are driven out;

the choirs of angels are amazed and rejoice;

the company of the faithful gathers in celebration.

O unconquerable weapon, unbroken stronghold,

triumph of Orthodox Christians and pride of priests,//

by following you may we witness the Passion and Resurrection of Christ our God!

 Rejoice, O life-bearing Cross:
invincible triumph of godliness,
gate of Paradise, and protection of the faithful!
The Cross is the might of the Church,
through which corruption is abolished,
through which the power of death is crushed,
and we are raised from earth to heaven.
O invincible weapon, the adversary of demons,
the glory of martyrs, the true adornment of ven’rable saints,
and the haven of salvation,//
which grants the world great mercy.

 

Come, O Adam and Eve, our first father and mother,

who fell from divine glory

through the envy of the murderer of man!

Bitter was the pleasure of the Tree of old;

but see, the honored Tree of the Cross draws near!

Run with haste and embrace it in joy,

crying out with faith:

“You are our help, O most-precious Cross!

We eat your fruit and gain incorruption!//

We are restored again to Eden, having received great mercy!”

 

Tone 3     (from the Lenten Triodion)

 

Wishing to restore all men to life,

You accepted crucifixion, O Christ our God.

Burning with boundless love for man,

You took the quill of the Cross in Your hand;

dipping it in ink of royal crimson,

You signed our release with blood-stained fingers.

Though temptations assault us,

may we never forsake You again!

Have mercy on Your despairing people,

O long-suffering Master!//

Arise and fight Your enemies in Your almighty power!

Tone 5     (from the Lenten Triodion)

 

Beholding You, the Fashioner and Creator of all, hanging naked on the Cross,

all creation was changed with fear and lamented.

The sun withdrew its light, and the earth quaked;

the rocks were rent, and the splendor of the Temple was torn asunder.

The dead rose out of their graves, and the hosts of angels were amazed, saying:

“Oh, the wonder!

The Judge is judged and suffers,//

desiring this for the salvation and renewal of the world.”

 

Aposticha

 

Tone 6     (for the Resurrection)

Desiring to return us to Paradise,

Christ was nailed to the Cross and placed in a tomb.

The Myrrhbearing Women sought Him with tears, crying,

“Woe to us, O Savior!

How do You deign to descend to death?

What place can hold Your life bearing body?

Come to us as You promised!

Take away our wailing and tears!”

Then the Angel appeared to them:

“Stop your lamentations!

Go, proclaim to the Apostles:

‘The Lord is risen,//

granting us purification and great mercy!’”

 

Having been crucified as You willed,

by Your burial You captured death, O Christ,

rising on the third day as God in glory,//

granting the world unending life and great mercy!