Did Jesus ask Christains to use the Cross as their Symbol?

Answer 1

of course not.. cross has nothing to do with either Christians or the Christ...
it has to do with the pagan Romans....who use to crucify people at that time...

your answer....it has nothing to do with the religion....and therefore....its a act of pagans...the romans

Answer 2

There is no mentioning in the Bible of Jesus asking Christians to use the cross to symbolize him. The first Christians used the Ichthys (fish symbol) to identify them selves. Descriptions of the cross do not really enter Christian writings until 200 hundred years after his death and depictions of the cross it self show up in the 3rd century BC.
There are also various forms of the cross. St Andrew's Cross is X shaped, the Egyptian Coptic Cross is in the shape of an Ankh (a much older symbol that is similar to the cross and originates from older Egyptian religions, yet adapted by Coptic Christians), St. Anthony's Cross is refered to as the tau cross and it being T shaped. The Greek Cross, adapted in the 4th century, is + shaped with all arms being equal, where as the cross you are most likely to be familiar with, the Latin Cross, has longer arms descending.
There are also many crosses that are of non Christian origin. Native Americans often have crosses represented in their symbology. Mayans have what is called the Tree of life, a cross shaped tree that represents the milky way. The cross is a symbol adapted by many cultures other than Christianity because it one of the simplest abstract symbols that can represent man- that being arms, head, and feet. Think of it as a very basic stick figure.

Answer 3

No, Jesus did not.
Personally, I find the use of the cross and the cucifix offensive as symbols of our faith, although so many of our churches display them. Here is a splendid little story that analogizes it very well:
There was a man who was hired to do some remodeling work for a woman whose son had been recently kiiled in the war in Iraq. On the mantle in the room where he was working was a crucifix and each day as he began his labors he would take the object from the mantle and cover it so as not to see it. Finally the woman asked him why he did such a thing. He replied, "You're son was recently killed in the war."
"Yes, that's true."
"Would you want to display an image of him at the time of his greatest suffering and humiliation on your mantle for all to see?"
"No, I guess I wouldn't", she replied.
"Then", he asked, "why would you want to do that with the Master?"
The woman removed the crucifix from the mantle and so far as the man knew, it was never put on display again.
So you see, the glory in the death and resurrection of the Lord is not in the crucifixion, but in His resurrection and assencion into heaven. Thus, to display the cross is much like displaying the rifle or bomb that killed the woman's son. And to worship such is an insult to the Redeemer.

Answer 4

No he did not ask us to use anything as a symbol, but he did say to pick up a cross and follow him

using the cross as a symbol for christianity is not idolatry howerver
idolatry is worshipping the symbol itself, we are worshipping the God behind that symbol

Answer 5

No, I don't believe so. Jesus told us to pick up our cross and follow him and there are more references to the cross in the NT by Paul, Peter, etc. And we are to look to the cross especially for redemption. But I don't believe Jesus ever says to take the cross as the Christian symbol.

Answer 6

A Crucifix is a representation of Jesus' Passion and Death on the Cross. It is a way to remember what Jesus did for us.


1 Cor 1 :18-19, 22-23

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.

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside."

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,


So how is one way to preach Christ crucified???
Like the old saying goes, "One picture is worth one thousand words". So we Catholics use a Crucifix.

Read Galations 3:1 -- "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes JESUS CHRIST WAS CLEARLY PORTRAYED AS CRUCIFIED"

Sounds like those Galatians were looking at a Crucifix, doesn't it?


Pauls says this in 1 Cor 2:1-2.
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to KNOW NOTHING while I was with you EXCEPT JESUS Christ and him CRUCIFIED."


Where was Jesus crucified??? On a cross.
BUT can we really remember Jesus crucified with a bare cross? NO! Only with Jesus on the Cross! With a Crucifix.

All non-Catholic Christians should recognize the "message of the cross" and "preach Christ crucified" by also using a Crucifix.

Answer 7

In the beginning of the Christian Church, which is made up of people who place their faith in Jesus, The Christ,(Christ means "annointed one"), not a denomination or building, it was a crime against the Roman Emporer to declare alliegience to anyone but him. If you were a Christian swearing alliegience to Jesus, you were considered an enemy of Rome and put to death. As an underground emblem of faith, the early Christians chose the symbol of the fish to identify themselves to other believers. The fish was a reminder of the statement Jesus made to His disciples that He would make them "fishers of men". The cross was later adopted, not as a "good luck" charm, or an "idol" but as a reminder to believers of the sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on the cross for the sins of mankind, creating a bridge of reconnection between man and God that was broken in the Garden of Eden when Adam disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. Believers carry the cross as a tribute to God's provision through salvation, and Jesus gift of love by the blood He shed from that cross. It has no magical powers, and brings no luck to the one who carries it, it is simply a testimony of sacrificial love.

Answer 8

Yes, in a way. He said, " Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) Now whether or not He is referring to a physical cross or symbolism of the cross of suffering can be debated.

Answer 9

No. But the cross that the Romans used to crucify people with was actually shaped like "T" this. By hanging people up from their arms like that eventually their heart will explode. So the christian symbol is kinda off.

Answer 10

I don't know that he said that, but if people want to wear a cross to Honnor our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, why not. The bible says in Matthew 16:24 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,and take up his cross and follow me.
I don't know if this answers your q, but we are supposed to follow Jesus.

Answer 11

No. I don't think he cares either way. Some people consider crucifixes bad taste as Christ is no longer on the cross while others think that removing Him from the cross denies His sacrifice (to clear up an earlier point). If people want to display a sign of their faith it is entirely up to them