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CHRISMON ORNAMENTS: NEW TESTAMENT WEEK 2
Day 7 THE IOTA CHI “In the original Greek text, “Jesus Christ” is written IHSOUS
XRISTOS. From earliest times these two letters have been combined into a beautiful symbol
representing the Christian’s faith that Jesus is “the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Living God”. (Matthew 16:16)
Day 8 The Cross “The cross is undoubtedly the most well-known of all Christian symbols. Because
of Christ’s death upon a cross, this cruel instrument of execution has become, to the believer, a
beautiful statement of faith and hope. Even as the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:14: ‘God forbid
that I should glory, save the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.’”
Day 9 the star “This familiar symbol is best known at the Christmas season because of its
appearance to the Wise Men at the birth of Christ. Matthew records: ‘And lo, the star, which they
saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they
saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.’” (Matthew 2:9-10)
DAY 10 THE STAR AND CROSS “The origin of the six-pointed Star of David is not clear but it has
been representative of the Jewish people for centuries. With the cross of Christ at its center, the
Star and Cross symbolizes the statement of Jesus
DAY 11 THE LAMB“This symbolic ‘Lamb of God’ is often known by its Latin name Angus Dei. John
1:29 records that upon seeing Jesus coming toward him, John the Baptist exclaimed, “Behold the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” The lamb, pure and faultless, was used as
the preferred sacrifice in the Old Testament. Only Jesus, however, could ever truly be the ‘perfect
sacrifice’ for the sins of mankind.”
DAY 12 THE BUTTERFLY “The butterfly has long been a symbol of life after death. The remarkable
transformation that takes place during the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly beautifully
illustrates the promise found in I Corinthians 15:52: ‘The dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed’”
DAY 13 DOVE “In Genesis 8:11, the Scriptures record: ‘And the dove came in
to him [Noah] in the evening, and lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf.’ so Noah knew that
the waters were abated from off the earth”. Today the dove with an olive branch has come
to symbolize peace, safety, and God’s desire for reconciliation with mankind.
DAY 14 KEYS “When Jesus said to Peter ‘I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’
(Matthew 16:19), He was referring to the Apostle’s privilege of opening the kingdom [Church]
to both Jew and Gentile. The Jews received the Gospel when Peter preached on the Day of
Pentecost (Acts 2). The first Gentiles to accept Christ were those of the household of Cornelius
(Acts 10). The keys, therefore, symbolize that all people, regardless of race, will be welcome in Christ’s Church.”
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