When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.  Christ told this to Nicodemus as they discussed the necessity of Baptism to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:14-15) (Numbers 21:4-9) Christ was pointing toward His crucifixion. He was lifted up on His throne, which is the cross. That’s why the Church has crucifixes, to remind us of Christ the King’s priestly sacrifice. All through the Passion narrative, the people trying to crucify Christ, referred to Him as a King. (John 19:1-16) Pilate referred to Him as a King, and Jesus replied you say so. (Luke 23:1-4) The crowd who yelled for His crucifixion said they had no king, but Caesar. Pilate, to make the prophecy official, had the sign King of the Jews written in three languages and placed above Christ on His throne, the Cross. (John 19:19-22)Â
St. Paul says I preach Christ crucified, because to separate Christ from His Cross, is to lose sight of His mission. (1Corrinthians 1:23-25, 2:2) He became man, yet was still fully God, so as to intercede with the Father on behalf of sinners. He went to the cross wearing the seamless garment of a priest (John 19:23-24) to offer His own Body and Blood as sacrifice for the sins of the world. The action that redeemed humanity, the crucifixion, is still commemorated daily in the Church today, just as St. Paul declared it twenty centuries ago. For Christians, Calvary is as important today as it was that first Good Friday.
