Coronation Street Cross
15/01/09 | Posted by ellen
Many of today’s newspapers have featured a story about the wedding of Coronation Street characters Tyrone Dobbs and Molly Compton. During the fictional ceremony the altar cross, that is usually a prominent feature of the real life church St Mary's in Nether Alderley, Cheshire, was replaced by a candelabra and a flower display. So much fuss has been made about the missing cross that the producers of the popular soap have had to apologize for its absence.
The Cross remembers Jesus CrucifixionIt seems that the producers decided that the cross in question would cause offense to some Coronation Street viewers so decided to cover it up. The cross was a large brass symbolic representation of the cruel wooden cross that would have been used to torture and execute many enemies of the Roman state and common criminals. Jesus was executed by being nailed to such a cross. You can find the following description of what crucifixion is on the re:jesus site:
Crucifixion usually involved flogging, carrying the cross-beam (the horizontal bar) to a public place of execution, and being tied or nailed to the cross. It was an exceptionally painful and shameful way to die, often lasting for days. It was normal for passers-by to verbally abuse the person being crucified.
It was considered too bad a punishment for Roman citizens, but the Romans crucified many thousands of slaves and foreigners. It had special a stigma for Jewish people, because of a verse in the Bible which says: “Anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed by God”.
I wonder what the cross continues to mean to us - perhaps we see it as a symbol of the Christian Faith, or a reminder of the cruel death of Jesus, or even a sign of hope or salvation? Whatever we think It seems that over 2,000 years after the death of Jesus the means of his execution continues to cause controversy.
Back to the top
Bookmark this post:
Your comments
I have a nagging question, that I hope can be answered. Were women crucified, or was there another punishment for them?
I am sure that the Lord Jesus Christ came to die for our sins by the shedding of his very own blood on the Cross at Calavalry. If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved. We can not save ourselves by any works that would satisfy a Holy God. We are saved by grace, a free gift of God, through faith. Then our communion with our God is restored!
The above image, “The Cross Remembers Jesus Crucifixion…” I would like to use in my soon to be published book, “Preaching: The Mirror of God”. My publisher, Outskirts Press, requires copyright authorization. If you are amenable to this, please send me email info so I can send you the paper to be signed for that authorization. Thanks. Brooke
Please let me know if I can use this image in my book. If I can I will need to send you a paper to sign for authorization. I will need to know your email address. Note #4 comment written to you on May 17, 2009 concerning the use of this beautiful image in my soon to be published book, “Preaching: The Mirror of God. Thanks. Brooke
My book is already finalyzed so it is too late to gain permission to use the image in my book. Thanks anyhow. It’s a beautiful cross! Rev. Brooke Wickliffe Fisher
Search rejesus
Blog post categories
Related modules
The Jesus timeline
Find that famous story
The Jesus FAQs
Questions and answers
Jesus and hope
Interactive explorations
Categories
Art & image
Articles
Biographical
Downloads
Experiential
How to
Interactive
Interviews
Poetry
Reviews
Seasonal
Sound & vision
Latest Blog posts
Dying to die?
I blogged back in December about my father in law who is very ill. Thanks to a wonderful care home… more
TV Review: The Bible: A History - Jesus (With Gerry Adams)
Gerry Adams’ exploration of Jesus and his teaching was always going to prove controversial, but it was pleasing to see… more
Ash Wednesday - the faith race
Today is Ash Wednesday and many Christians across the world will be attending services and having ash placed on their… more
Life as we know it
Here now: 35
Last comment: 09/03 at 04:21 pm
Total comments: 297
The cross to me is a sign of love. That Jesus could go through all that pain willingly. To go through torture for me and for you. To willingly give up his life to give people he knew and billions he didnt hope for a better future and better life.
I look at the cross and see pain and agony as well, but its a reminder for me that sometimes we have to go through struggles and pain to do what is right, that it might not be ok right now but keep going because if your doing the right thing it will turn out well in the end.