Chp.86 - Christ's Cross Is Analogous With The Various Rods Of The Old Testimony

"And when I had quoted this, I added, “Hear, then, how this Man, of whom the Scriptures declare that He will come again in glory after His crucifixion, was symbolized both by the tree of life, which was said to have been planted in paradise, and by those events which should happen to all the just. Moses was sent with a rod to effect the redemption of the people; and with this in his hands at the head of the people, he divided the sea. By this he saw the water gushing out of the rock; and when he cast a tree into the waters of Marah, which were bitter, he made them sweet. Jacob, by putting rods into the water-troughs, caused the sheep of his uncle to conceive, so that he should obtain their young. With his rod the same Jacob boasts that he had crossed the river. He said he had seen a ladder, and the Scripture has declared that God stood above it. . . . Aaron’s rod, which blossomed, declared him to be the high priest. Isaiah prophesied that a rod would come forth from the root of Jesse, [and this was] Christ." Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 242). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Justin returns to his previous belief concerning the typology of "the cross" in the Old Testament. While most point to the typology of Christ in the Old Testament, Justin chooses the cross. While not every thing wooden in the Old Testament can be analogous of the cross, Justin does have a short line of grace to show how the cross is foreshadowed in the Old Testimony. The cross is like the rod of Aaron, though old and rugged, it still blossoms like the beauty of a rose, even at the end of life. Jesus is the rose of Sharon that will blossom at the end of the ages, as a direct result of the power of the cross (Song.2:1). The cross is what will make the waters of wormwood sweet in the earthly days of His literal high priestly reign in Jerusalem (Rev.8:11;Amos 5:7;6:12). The typology will continue, but only as the wood is directly related to the typology of Christ.

The main point of all this typology, according to Justin, is to identify that this Jesus is the Christ which was promised, and that the Jews do not have to look any further, because he is the Jesus whom they handed over to be crucified by the Romans. But this is a great hurdle if you are a Jew of this day. Jews were very patriotic of their nation, and permitted no one to speak evil of its honor and pride - the Temple and the customs. But this was as a result of her idolatry and spiritual ignorance/blindness. She knew nothing of honor, because honor is derived from the LORD; and because she knew not the LORD, she forfeited her birthrights for the pagan doctrines of the deceivers, empowered by the demons.

Therefore the cross of Christ was given like the rods of the old shepherds that would bless Israel through vigorous discipline, but this time the discipline would strike the perfect Shepherd to impute our sins to him, and his righteousness to those who believe in him (Zech.13:7;Matt.26:31). Like the rods that Jacob put into the water-troughs, the cross is the miracle that conceives the Holy Nature in sinful man by imputation, which Jesus called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A cross-less water baptism is no baptism at all (Acts 18:26); and so the cross births a holy life into us by the gift of the Holy Spirit of God, to save us, not only from the second death, but, from the power of sin that reigns in our human nature. And therefore by this imputation of righteousness we are sanctified to pursue holiness in the Holy Spirit (Acts 26:18;1Cor.15:55-58). "And David says that the righteous man is ‘like the tree that is planted by the channels of waters, which should yield its fruit in its season, and whose leaf should not fade.’7 Again, the righteous is said to flourish like the palm-tree. God appeared from a tree to Abraham, as it is written, near the oak in Mamre. The people found seventy willows and twelve springs after crossing the Jordan.8 David affirms that God comforted him with a rod and staff. Elisha, by casting a stick9 into the river Jordan, recovered the iron part of the axe with which the sons of the prophets had gone to cut down trees to build the house in which they wished to read and study the law and commandments of God; even as our Christ, by being crucified on the tree, and by purifying [us] with water, has redeemed us, though plunged in the direst offences which we have committed, and has made [us] a house of prayer and adoration. Moreover, it was a rod that pointed out Judah to be the father of Tamar’s sons by a great mystery.” Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 242). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

So, all those "of the wood" (the death of Christ) now live to God in the Spirit, bearing fruit in the proper season, such as David. Also, these, such as Judah, are disciplined by this rod through the proclamation of Christ crucified, which points out our sins; and that Christ is more righteous to forgive us our sins (Gen.38:26;1Cor.11:26-32) if we continue in his Word (Rom.10:17 (ESV);Jn.8:31). And so those who are committed to this Word of the cross (1Cor.1:23;2:2) become this house of prayer for all the nations to come and adore his life giving power in this cross; the same power of the Old Testimony of Israel. And therefore the Jews should see the typology of this wooden frame work of this lowly carpenter from Nazareth, who has built us a house of prayer on the foundation of this typology of the cross and his personal resurrection from the dead, to ascend victorious to the Father, justifying those who would believe.

On this foundation, the Most Holy Father hears our prayers through the double imputation of the likeness of the Son, in the fragile frame of human weakness; for Christ is our eternal High Priest and ever lives to make intercession for the elect children of His grace, sympathizing with them in their weaknesses (Heb.2:17;4:15). But Trypho cannot receive a heart of faith until he understands that this Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, is the Christ who was wounded for the transgressions of Israel (Isa.53). And that the true "sword" of Israel will not return to her hand until she looks upon whom she pierced with her pride and scorn (Heb.4:12;Rev.1:16;Ps.149:6;Zech.12:10;Matt.27:40;Lk.23:37).