While the empty cross is a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead, the crucifix is a vivid reminder of the sacrificial love of God.
QUESTION: The bible condemns the making of image in the likeness of anything in heaven or on earth, so why do Catholic and Orthodox wear a crucifix?
ANSWER: To begin with the Bible does not condemn the making of “images”, but rather the making of “idols”. In Exodus 20:4 we read: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” “graven image” translated by both Wikipedia and Merriam-Webster is “idol”. So in fact we “shall not make for yourself an “idol” of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth”. Crucifixes are not idols, we do not worship them!
For those who like to quote the Bible I would suggest you actually read the whole thing and not just individual quotes that suit your personal theology. I say this not as an insult but as a matter of education. In Exodus 25: 18-20 God actually COMMANDS the making of images: “Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the cover; make one cherub at one end, and the other at the other end, of one piece with the cover, at each end”.
So in fact, it’s not the “making of images” but rather the “worship of idols” that is condemned by God.
So why do we keep Jesus on the cross when He is risen?
Simple answer (as stated by Fr. Vincent Serpa): “because we are saved by Jesus, and not by a cross.”
Long answer: We can’t have a Resurrection without a Crucifixion, and, as Fr. John Corapi states, (paraphrasing) “If you ever hear a gospel which proclaims the Resurrection without the Crucifixion, or an Easter without a Good Friday, run away as fast as you can, for this “good news” is a great DECEPTION!”
Jesus tells us in the Gospel to expect suffering if one becomes a Believer: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” -Luke 14
Some Christians might think that Catholics and Orthodox downplay Jesus’ Resurrection by putting too much emphasis on Jesus’ Crucifixion. This might imply that we reject the risen Christ and worship a “dead” Christ. We worship both the Jesus who died for our sins and also the Jesus who rose from His sacrificial death for our sins. At the Liturgy of the Mass Catholics profess, “Jesus has died, JESUS IS RISEN, Jesus will come again.” In our Christian journey on the way Home to the Lord, we, like Jesus, carry our cross. So, we not only preach Christ Risen, but also Christ Crucified.
One cannot look at a crucifix without seeing Great Love. For, as Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13.
LOVE is what we are proclaiming when we display and venerate the crucifix.
Finally, Catholics no more “keep Jesus on the cross” than all Christians “keep Jesus an infant” when they display Him in statues and photos as the baby Jesus in a manger at during Christmas.
We cannot preach Jesus’ Resurrection without also preaching Jesus’ Crucifixion. For the Resurrection to have happened, it had to begin with the Crucifixion. How can we worship the risen Jesus without also worshipping the Jesus who died for our sins?
I’m a Protestant Christian and have worn a crucifix for a while now… (follow the link to read the rest):
http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/advice/goodadvice/18.12.html