View Cross

30. THE ROOT OF JESSE
There shall come forth a shoot from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:1-2
“The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” Romans 15:12

31. THE ANNUNCIATION
The visitation of the angel Gabriel when he announced to Mary that, through the Holy Spirit, she would conceive our savior.
In the sixth month (of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth’s preg.), the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

32. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. Matt.3:13
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9
And when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “Thou are my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21 and 22

33. THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES
And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:16 and 17

34. THE STORM AT SEA
This episode of Jesus peacefully asleep during a raging storm on Galilee, represents his sovereignty over nature. The disciples’ distress over his apparent indifference to their peril is in marked contrast to their response after he calmed the storm.
And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat in to the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be Still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” Mark 4:37-41

35. HEALING OF THE GERASENE DEMONIAC
In the healing of the Gerasene demoniac Jesus was demonstrating His power over the spiritual realm.
And as He [Jesus] stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “ What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Luke 8: 27-29a

36. JESUS RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”
John 11:25-26 Jesus said, “ Take away the stone….” John 11: 39; …He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” John 11: 43; The dead man came out… John 11:44
In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrated His power over death.

37. JESUS CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
“In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.” John 2:14-17
In cleansing the temple, Jesus confronted the corruption that had infected the worship of God.

38. JESUS IN THE GARDEN
…[He] began to be greatly distressed and troubled. Mark 14:33a And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14: 36
Jesus was beginning to experience the onslaught of His agonies as He confronted the horror of the cross and His death.

39. JOHN OBEYING JESUS INTAKING MARY INTO HIS CARE
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27

40. DESENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of mighty wind, …. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit….” Acts 2:1,2a,3,4a
At the base of this scene are the disciples at the time of Pentecost. I pictured them connecting with the church as it grew and branched into the subsequent centuries under the covering of the Holy Spirit, represented by the descending dove.

41. JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THE LAMPSTANDS
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters; in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Rev. 1:12-16

…the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Rev. 1: 20b

42. THE CROWN
But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. Hebrews 2:9
The crown symbolizes the authority and power of our Lord over all things.

Back to Top

Footnote: This cross is a memorial to Peg Molin, given by her husband Keith. It is situated in the court yard, outside of Monteith Hall on the southwest corner of First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Photo credits to Marion Powers.

Website by 3rd Child Studio.