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What’s the difference between the Orthodox portrayal of the crucifixion and the one seen in The Passion of the Christ? In this video, Fr. Barnabas talks about the contrast between the Orthodox Church’s depiction of Christ’s crucifixion and Hollywood’s intense, emotional version. See why Orthodox icons show a pristine image of the Cross and how this approach emphasizes spiritual freedom, love, and redemption over guilt and shame.
Fr. Barnabas Powell is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, GA. Follow his homilies on YouTube at Faith Encouraged TV.
This sermon was delivered on April 7th, 2024, the Third Sunday of Lent, Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyNkHuSCnSI
Fr. Barnabas:
When they started nailing Jesus to the Cross, both of my kids crawled up into my lap. My oldest kept tapping me and asked, “Daddy, why are they doing that to Jesus? Why are they doing that to Jesus, Daddy?” We’re not showing you that image of the Cross because it has created, in our culture, a sense of shame and guilt. People often point to the bloody, beaten body of our Lord nailed on the Cross and say, “See what God did for you. What are you going to do for Him?” That’s manipulative, and we don’t show you that.
An Orthodox icon of the crucifixion of Jesus is pristine. You might see a few trickles of blood from His side, the crown of thorns, and the holes in His hands and feet, but that’s it. You don’t see a gory, bloody mess on the Cross because that, brothers and sisters, can sidetrack you into sentimentality and nostalgia. When you’re trying to run a marathon, you get up early, sacrifice time, and train for months. Similarly, people make sacrifices for what they love most in life. Today, the Church holds up the Cross of Jesus, not to make you feel sentimental or guilty, but to show you the highest good: your freedom and redemption.
What we show you is God’s love, the highest good, and freedom from the lies of mortality. Mortality makes you prioritize small things, encouraging selfishness and narcissism, telling you to grab all the gusto because you only live once. The Church shows us the Cross as the ultimate symbol of freedom. However, notice that the Cross is always mentioned with the resurrection. They come together, a package deal, because there’s no resurrection without Calvary. God doesn’t stop at the Cross; He invites us to stay for the resurrection and beyond.
Brothers and sisters, this morning, what are you sacrificing for? Is it the highest good? Do you even know what the highest good is? What price are you willing to pay for your life? Today, God shows us the price He’s willing to pay. This morning you are invited by the powerful timeless wisdom of normal Orthodoxy to allow the Cross to transform your perspectives and your priorities, to make you by Grace what Christ is by nature. Nothing less is what’s being offered to you today — if you have the courage.
Thank you so much for watching. I pray this was a blessing to you. If it was, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. It really helps us. Speaking of helping, if you’d like to support this media outreach, visit our Patreon site at Faithencouraged on patreon.com. You can also visit our website at faithencouraged.org, or write to me at frBarnabas@faithencouraged.org. I look forward to seeing you next time. Don’t forget to like and subscribe. God bless you!
