And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:50-53*

The second cross is now in place to complete the story of Christ’s passion leading up to the Resurrection. This one uses a completely different design to represent the spiritual and physical connection between heaven and earth in the death and resurrection of Christ.

The vertically moving diagonal lines reference the rupture of the power of sin over the human race as the curtain in the Temple is torn from top to bottom.

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Acts 17:24*

The cool blues and whites of heaven in the top section are connected to the warm greens and reds of the earthly lower section by way of the glowing crossbeam of pinks and sunrise yellows.

The gold semi-circle in the crossbeam refers to the empty tomb and the red semi-circle lower down completes the action of resurrection among humankind.

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen! Luke 24:5-6*

The glass used in this cross is mainly coloured opaque streaky glass which reflects back most the light hitting it, rather than transmitting light through it (as in the Lent Cross). This enables the colours to be seen more brightly in all light conditions – but especially when back-lit.

The cross seen with daylight behind – revealing the depth of colours in the semi-opaque glass. These colours respond to the smallest changes in the angle and intensity of light, never the same twice.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prohets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:34-35*

It has been a privilege being commissioned to create these two crosses which represent the two poles of my own belief – from the agony of weakness and seeming defeat to the joyous transformation of resurrection victory. Who could honestly survive in our desperate world without some belief in a mercy greater than our own?

*All quotes from New King James Version