Students reflect on meaning of the cross during Convocation

Convocation in Liberty University’s Vines Center served as a time of worship and remembrance as students joined together in recognition of Good Friday.

Dim lighting in the arena created an atmosphere of personal reflection as the crowd sang songs of Christ’s sacrifice, heard a Scripture reading from Junior Class President Jack Heaphy, and were encouraged to ponder the impact of Jesus’ death on the cross in their own lives.

Dr. Joshua Chatraw, executive director of Liberty’s Center for Apologetics & Cultural Engagement, took a few minutes to discuss the cultural significance of the cross. He reminded students that were it not for this pivotal moment in history, our lives would not be what they are — in fact, there would be no true life at all.

He explained that without Easter, there would be no New Testament. Chatraw said that the Gospel message has permeated culture, bringing forth new ideas that have given humanity more freedoms.

“Without the cross, we never would have heard the words, ‘Let freedom ring,’” Chatraw said, quoting words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famed “I have a dream” speech. “When we allow freedom to ring … from every village and every hamlet and every state and every city, we will be able to speed up the day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing … thank God Almighty we are free at last.”

Classes are canceled on Monday in observance of Easter.