Corpus Depicted on Cross

This was in the HT Reflection for today, I just thought it was awesome:

"This is why there is always a corpus, a body, depicted on the cross. We all know that Jesus rose from the dead. We’re in the middle of the Easter season, after all. We keep saying it to each other and to the world: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Yet we always depict the cross with a corpus, the lifeless body of Jesus.The world finds the crucifix bizarre, macabre, weird. What an ugly symbol! But viewed through baptismal eyes, this is the symbol of victory, the emblem of our salvation. This is the bronze serpent held high on a stick on which snakebitten Israel look and lived (St. John 3:14; Numbers 21:8-9). This is our death by which we die to sin. This is our life by which we live for righteousness. Those horrible wounds are the wounds of our healing. The resurrection of Jesus is the evidence that His death is the victory over Death.The cross of Jesus is the tree of life, planted in the Zion, the Church, from which the nations may come and eat of its fruits and live. Even its leaves are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2) . The fruits of that saving treeare yours in the Holy Supper, where Jesus gives you the fruits of His sacrifice – His broken Body, His shed Blood, for you, for your forgiveness and life."

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. On the tree of the cross you gave salvation to mankind that, whence death arose,thence life also might rise again and that he who by a tree once overcame likewise by a tree might be overcome, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Preface for the Passion of our Lord)


1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide;
Nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light,
For us be ever veiled in night.

2. In these last days of sore distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That pure we keep, till life is spent,
Thy holy Word and Sacrament.

3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold,
For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold.
Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace
And spread its truth in every place!

4. Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray;
The guile and rage of Satan stay!
Oh, may Thy mercy never cease!
Give concord, patience, courage, peace.

5. O God, how sin's dread works abound!
Throughout the earth no rest is found,
And falsehood's spirit wide has spread,
And error boldly rears its head.

6. The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain
Who o'er Thy Church with might would reign
And always set forth something new,
Devised to change Thy doctrine true.

7. And since the cause and glory, Lord,
Are Thine, not ours, to us afford
Thy help and strength and constancy.
With all our heart we trust in Thee.

8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word,
Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword.
Oh, let us in its power confide
That we may seek no other guide!

9. Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word
We here may live and die, dear Lord;
And when our journey endeth here,
Receive us into glory there.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #292