The primary symbol for Protestant Christianity is an empty cross, as opposed to the Roman Catholic Church which emphasizes the crucifix. The difference in meaning is significant. For Protestants, the suffering of Jesus is over and done. At Easter, the one who was once a victim becomes a victor. Christ, who seemed conquered by human evil and death, conquers both—conquering evil by forgiving it, and conquering death by rising from the grave. Thus the empty cross is a symbol not of tragedy but of triumph!

In the Russian Orthodox tradition, the cross is also empty, but it is a different kind of cross. Instead of an upright with just one crosspiece, it has two smaller crosspieces as well, one just slightly above the central one and the other toward the foot. The little one above represents the sign the Romans nailed over our Lord’s head which bore the words: “Jesus of Nazareth King of Jews.” The inscription was written out in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that no one would miss the intended sarcasm—Some king this turned out to be! The second little crosspiece down toward the bottom of the cross represents the block placed beneath our Savior’s feet so that he wouldn’t accidentally fall off and thus end his punishment prematurely. It is placed not at right angles to the upright like the other two, but at a slant—one end being lower than the other. This is to show that when the pain got most severe, Jesus pressed down hard on one foot.

So in terms of the Russian cross, the suffering of the crucified one is never completely over and done. Christ the victor continues also to be Christ the victim. He suffers still at the hands of the world’s hatred and hostility. He suffers whenever any of us suffer. He shares our sorrows and bears our griefs.

While they symbolize different aspects of the Passion, I think these three depictions of the cross—Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Russian Orthodox—each have an important truth to tell us. After all, without the pain of Good Friday, the promise of Easter is a hollow one. You cannot celebrate a resurrection if no one has died. The message of Easter is not that death and evil have lost their voice in this world, but rather that they no longer have the final word!

“In the world you face persecution,” Jesus told his disciples, “but take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33b) That is the good news which we look forward to experiencing on Easter!