On the Wood

Why did Jesus die on a cross? Thomas asks (ST III, 46, 4). He gives a variety of answers: Adam sinned at a tree, so Jesus saves at a tree; Jesus suffered in the air to purify the atmosphere; Jesus was elevated in death to show us the way of ascent; the four-cornered cross indicates that salvation spreads to the four corners of the earth.

Then this from Augustine: “Not without purpose did He choose this class of death, that He might be a teacher of that breadth, and height, and length, and depth. . . . For breadth is in the beam, which is fixed transversely above; this appertains to good works, since the hands are stretched out upon it. Length is the tree’s extent from the beam to the ground; and there it is planted—that is, it stands and abides – which is the note of longanimity. Height is in that portion of the tree which remains over from the transverse beam upwards to the top, and this is at the head of the Crucified, because He is the supreme desire of souls of good hope. But that part of the tree which is hidden from view to hold it fixed, and from which the entire rood springs, denotes the depth of gratuitous grace.’ And, as Augustine says (Tract. cxix in Joan.): ‘The tree upon which were fixed the members of Him dying was even the chair of the Master teaching.’”

Then a veritable forest of biblical citations – the ark that saves from the flood waters, the wooden rod that Moses uses to part the sea and sweeten the water, the ark of the covenant that contained the law of God.” All of these “are like steps by which we mount to the wood of the cross.”

Not only the cross itself, but the thieves were appropriate (III, 46, 11). The Romans and Jews placed Him between thieves “that He might be made to share their guilt” (Chrysostom). God intended something else: To show that Jesus took our guilt, to manifest the coming judgment when Jesus will separate those on His right from those on His left; to show that all humanity is called to share the fruits of Jesus’ passion. Thomas quotes Augustine: “he very cross, if thou mark it well, was a judgment-seat: for the judge being set in the midst, the one who believed was delivered, the other who mocked Him was condemned. Already He has signified what He shall do to the quick and the dead; some He will set on His right, others on His left hand.” Now is the judgment of this world indeed.