Today Celtic Lent challenges our modern belief that only the facts of what happened are useful for helping us to understand what happened. The Celtic Christians, however, believed imagery and metaphor were the important things for interpreting what was happening.

In the Dream of the Rood, instead of a weak beaten Jesus stumbling with cross through the streets of Jerusalem, we see a young hero who was eagerly approaching the cross. This image sets our focus on the spiritual realms rather than the physical. So rather than the facts, we are drawn into the imagery of what is really happening behind the scenes, behind the Celtic Christians look at the happenings on the cross and ask ‘what is really happening here?’

That question is answered as we look at the young hero Jesus of the story physically weakened but spiritually strong as he enters the battle to redeem humanity and creation and destroy Satan and evil.

Today I’m going to try and carry that image with me; the image of Christ eagerly approaching the cross to save humanity and restore creation. I am going to try to grapple with that image from the Dream of the Rood of Jesus hugging the cross to begin the battle which he knows he will win.

What are your things on this imagery and theology?
Do you find the image of a brave warrior Christ as liberating or repulsive?
What do you believe happened at the cross?