Dictionary.com defines “exhibition” as the following — a public display, as of the work of artists or artisans, the products of farms or factories, the skills of performers, or objects of general interest.
Most often, when we imagine the word ‘exhibition’ we are thinking about art & its artisans; craftmanship of the craft for all to see. In its most positive light we behold the beauty of the artform on display & appreciate the craftsmanship of the artisan. Indeed, we critique the artisan upon their handiwork observing all the intricate details & fine lines, making absolutely certain that we, as the observers, did not miss anything. A true exhibition, would you not agree, is meant to be observed & admired, even critiqued, for the object on display is put on display for the people to watch & see & marvel at the beauty of the created artform. Or to criticize & curse & humiliate both the artisan & the artform.
Let us take a moment to imagine the Cross. It is nothing more than two pieces of wood — one horizontal cross-beam bisecting a longer vertical beam. Is it not true, then, that that is not all there is to this image? To many of us, it is not enough simply to imagine the cross as two pieces of wood but rather, the identity of the individual on that cross — nailed to the cross. We find its metaphors sometimes emblazoned with our names or initials engraved & embossed in gold leaf or silver or platinum worn about the neck adorning the person whom we care about deeply. This is now a symbol — this jewel about the neck — of the enduring love & faith that this person wears as a sign of deep affection.
Yet, the cross was the most cruel form of punishment ever devised & engineered by human hands. Its most basic & only function, to mete out punishment to the maximum extent of physical torment until life is extinguished by breathlessness. The criminal hangs in full view of all winesses so that the individual is put to shame & embarrassment of the act they had committed.
Christ, on the other hand, went to the cross not as a criminal charged with a crime but an innocent man taking on the charge of the guilty. Why would an innocent man as Christ, the Holy Son of God, the Divine God-Man, choose to do this? Because “for all humankind have sinned & fall short of the glory of God” —
Romans 3:24-26
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
You see, it was love on display. Love on exhibition. It was the grace & mercy of God the Father as a gift for us so that we would look upon the Christ & be put to shame that an innocent man died for the sins that you & I committed — be put to shame so that we would reach for that mercy hanging there on the cross & ask for mercy upon us. And by grace we are saved through Faith. No words can describe; no words can do true justice to this picture; no words can spring into action the artform of God the Artisan showing to us His Amazing Grace. This object of God’s wrath, the man Jesus Christ on the cross, is our redemption & the mercy of the same God — the same God who put His only Son to death is the same God who will bring about our salvation & renewal through His Son.
This perfect image of the cross of our Lord Jesus becomes magnified into glorious exhibition when we view it in concert with the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Taken in conjunction with each other the picture becomes clear — The body of Christ broken for us; the Blood of Christ spilled for us — this is the justice & wrath of God upon Christ for us :
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Then, gloriously, when we partake & eat of the body that was broken for us — the bread; when we partake & drink of the blood that was spilled for us — the wine; this displays the salvation & grace of God within our own bodies. We have the picture & the image of Christ within the elements as a sign of His enduring love & fellowship with us.
My friends, both the cross of & the Lord’s Supper are exhibitions of God’s enduring love & mercy. They are affectionate craftsmanship of the true Artisan, God, who displayed His Son publically so that we would be forgiven through the very objects that put the Christ to death. His death is our pardon; His death means our lasting & enduring friendship & fellowship with the Trinity forever.
