Sermon - Holy Cross Day 2025 - John 12:20-33

Christ on the Cross, Andrea Solari, 1503

Let Us See Jesus Upon the Cross

1. The cross looks like foolishness to the world

1. But therein is wisdom

2. The cross looks depressing to Christians

1. But therein is hope and life

A blessed feast of the Holy Cross to you dear brothers and sisters in Christ! This feast, Holy Cross Day, is perhaps one of the more controversial feast days among us Lutherans. Holy Cross Day is named after the discovery of the cross Jesus was crucified upon, by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, in the 4th century. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then constructed on the site where it was discovered, and the cross was exposed for the public to see on September 14th, 335. 

The controversial part of this is that as time progressed the relic trade became very popular, and pieces of the “true cross” were “discovered” all over the world and superstitiously venerated by the faithful. Instead of focusing upon Jesus who was crucified upon the cross, the focus became the pieces of wood upon which He was crucified. What’s more, nearly all, or perhaps all of these relics were fakes, since there were more pieces of the cross than it would’ve taken to rebuild it. Our hope is in Christ crucified, not in the wood upon which He was crucified.

Nevertheless, in spite of those problems with Holy Cross Day, Lutherans continued to celebrate this feast, not to venerate pieces of wood, but in order to focus more intently upon Jesus’ crucifixion for us. Considering all of the recent violence against Christians, this seems very fitting for us to do. The Roman Catholic school shooting in the cities or the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was extremely vocal about his faith in Jesus Christ, are difficult for us Christians to bear. But when Christians are being martyred for their faith, it’s vital that we spend time meditating on Jesus’ crucifixion. The only way for us to remain sane in the midst of such violence against us is to focus on Jesus’ death for us which gives us eternal life. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we will be emboldened to fight the good fight of faith, remaining steadfast under trial, so that in time we may dwell with all the saints in heavenly glory. Thus, in a way, today is like Good Friday in September, a day to meditate on Jesus’ death for us. 

Holy Cross Day is also a helpful reminder and corrective for us in our lives of faith that we would focus ourselves upon Christ crucified for us.  There are many distractions, many important things going on in the world today that reduce our attention to Jesus. Thus, the words of the Greeks in John twelve are insightful: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” It’s interesting that those words are commonly placed in pulpits, facing the pastor, so that he is reminded of his primary task at hand, which is to preach Jesus Christ, and especially to preach Christ Crucified. Our lives have so much other stuff happening, so many other issues and trials, the world is filled with violence and insanity, and the task of the preacher is to proclaim Christ crucified, because that is the one necessary thing to hear at such a time as this. For St. Paul also reminds us: “Jews demand signs, Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified… the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

 This is also fitting as I am celebrating my first year anniversary of being a pastor here. A year ago tomorrow I was installed here. The following Sunday I preached my inaugural sermon here, in which I said: “Over the course of the coming years I will proclaim to you the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, whereby our sins are forgiven for the sake of Him who died and rose for us.” I pray that over the past year I have accomplished this task, and I pray to Almighty God that I may by His grace continue to preach Christ Crucified to His beloved children gathered here. Therefore, through the ministry God is performing here at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, both through my lips and pastor Matheny’s, let us see Jesus upon the cross.

Perhaps this seems like a strange goal, though, especially considering the fact that the world considers the crucifixion of Jesus to be foolishness. The world seeks power, wealth, vitality, and God hanging dead on a piece of wood doesn’t look like that. This world mocks weakness and frailty, and demands strength. This world has always declared that might is right and the fittest will survive while the weaker ones lose and are ruled by the mighty. Thus, Christ crucified is folly to Gentiles and this world.

However, while “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” God chose what is foolish in this world in order to shame the strong. For might is not right, because the might of man ends in sin, death, and sorrow, and the sorrows of Christ mightily saves those who are perishing in sin and death.

Jesus explains the wisdom of the cross through a parable: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus Christ is the grain of wheat, the bread of life, and in dying He fell into the earth and was buried in a tomb. But the soil cannot hold the seed, nor can the tomb hold Jesus, for in dying Jesus vanquished the ancient foe, death, and burst forth from the grave like a living grain sprouting forth from the earth. Just as the wheat grows and is fruitful, so is Jesus fruitful in His crucifixion bringing life to all who also fall into the earth in death. Just as the Lord sprouted forth from His tomb, so shall all who believe in Him burst forth from the earth. On the final day the church graveyard will become a garden in spring, where newly sprouted Christians shall stand upon the earth once more. And so what appears foolish to the world, is the wisdom of God.

Unfortunately it’s not only the world who despises the sight of Christ Crucified, but even those who bear the name of Christ. They claim Christ crucified is depressing. They don’t want crosses in sanctuaries, because that’s a horrific torture device upon which Jesus died. They don’t want to see images of Jesus’ body on the cross, like crucifixes and paintings, because they’re too depressing and gory. We only want to see hope, and crosses look like despair.

But therein, upon the cross of Christ, is the only hope for mankind. Jesus declared His time on the cross His glory: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified… And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” The glory of Jesus Christ is His crucifixion on the cross! “For this purpose I have come to this hour.” Although a naked corpse, bruised and goried, is hideous to the eyes, it is the glory of God because there is salvation! “Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” There, upon the cross of Christ is victory and salvation, there is redemption, there is hope, and there is life. The hideous image of God’s corpse, is the most glorious and beautiful image in all creation, because only there do I have life beyond death and the grave.

Indeed, He draws all people to Himself when He is hanging upon the cross! He is the greater bronze serpent of Numbers 21! When the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent on a pole, after they had been bitten by poisonous serpents sent by God to punish them for their sins, they were healed and they lived. Of course the Israelites weren’t saved by a statue, but they were saved by their faith in God to rescue them. The crosses that we have today are like the bronze serpent, but better!

You who have been bitten by the ancient dragon, that serpent, the devil, and are dying because of your sins against God and man, look upon the Holy Cross of Christ, have faith in Jesus who was crucified for you, and live. We don’t just look at some piece of metal or wood, that’s not what we worship, but we worship Him who hung upon a piece of wood and was pierced with metal through His hands and feet. In faith we behold the Savior of the World upon the cross and see God’s glory, mercy, and love. We see hope!

We’re not left venerating some piece of wood of the true Holy Cross. While that would be great to see the blood soaked wood upon which Christ hung for us, we do not venerate and worship any of these symbols. When we look upon crosses, whether they’re in our sanctuary, around our necks, or on a steeple, we worship Christ Crucified, the God-Man, our King and our Savior, whose death sets us free from death. Bow down and kneel and worship and venerate the true living God who was crucified and is now living. Follow Christ Crucified, take up your cross, bear the load of suffering and sorrow today, because He who accomplished the salvation of mankind by the tree of the cross may lead you from foolishness to wisdom, from despair to hope, and from death to life.