Lamb Cross
also called Agnus Dei Cross
Agnus Dei is Latin for 'Lamb of God'. The term (in Latin or English) refers to the role Jesus Christ played when He was sacrificed on the cross to atone for the sins of mankind.
Lamb Cross
also called Agnus Dei Cross
Lamb Cross
Agnus Dei is Latin for 'Lamb of God'. The term (in Latin or English) refers to the role Jesus Christ played when He was sacrificed on the cross to atone for the sins of mankind. The Lamb Cross or Agnus Dei Cross portrays a lamb marching from right to left carrying a cross. The cross is sometime replaced with victory flag. (See also Portate Cross)
This symbol follows the words of John the Baptist who refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) refering to the prophecy we can read in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:7 and Jeremiah 11:19) where the lamb symbolises a suffering servant. It was the ancient Jewish custom to sacrifice a lamb in the Temple during the Passover - which happened to be the time that Jesus was crucified (John 19:14).
Showing a lamb with a cross gets over the problem of attempting to reproduce a physical likeness of Jesus, as we see in a crucifix. The crucifix, showing a man wracked by pain, helps us recall the suffering Christ bore for us; the lamb helps us recall how meekly Jesus accepted His role.
Seal of the Moravian Church
Moravia is a historical region in the easternmost part of today's Czech Republic. The Moravian Church uses an Agnus Dei as their seal with the surrounding inscription Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur (Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow him), just as sheep follow the shepherd and depend on him for protection. More than that, the sheep depend on their shepherd for survival.
The lamb has conquered; an awesome statement and well worth looking further into.
How could anyone as feeble as a lamb conquer anything, let alone conquer evil? Throughout history, Christian crusaders have sadly taken the opposite approach to conquering what they believe to be sinful. Even today, we are so passionate in believing that our ways are right, and that we have a duty to bring other people up to our standard. For their own good. And if that means violence, then so be it.
This is the antithesis of what Jesus taught and demonstrated.
Jesus taught in His 'Sermon on the Mount' (Matthew 5:43-45) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." We cannot escape this command - it is an essential part of Christianity. Acting meekly is not a spindly sign of impotence - it can be very tough to follow the clear command of Jesus Christ.
Yet we should not forget that God will not demand anything we are not capable of achieving. And God will equip us with all the armaments we need.
It's all there in Ephesians 6:10-17.
