‘Cross Makers’…an Easter Story
April 20, 2025
Scripture: Luke 24:1-12
The brothers Lucan and Silvanus lived and worked in Jerusalem. Born into a working class Roman family they were sons of a well known carpenter who originally hailed from Antioch. Early on in the two brothers’ lives their parents decided to relocate southward to Jerusalem in search of new opportunities to market fine carvings and household decorations from their father’s wood shop.
So while they were of Roman descent, the two young men were not of the upper, or even middle class of Roman society. They grew up laboring beside their father in his woodshop and it was there that they began learning the woodworking trade. However their apprenticeship was cut short when they were in their early teens by their father’s untimely and unexpected death. As a result they took on the care of their mother, and did their best to keep the family business healthy and productive.
However, they did not have the experience nor the training to be able to continue to provide either the line of goods, nor the quality their father was known for. Their father had been a fine craftsman and had made many beautiful wooden bowls, wall hangings, and decorations for rich patrons who insisted on buying from him, as it was of such high quality.
Unfortunately only Lukan, the elder of the two brothers, had been blessed with a real measure of talent for woodworking. However, neither one had ever really wanted to follow in their father’s footsteps, but…here they were, that’s all they knew. Lucan was much like his father in that he was very meticulous, and was able to read the grain of various woods, judging both its quality and strength. His younger brother Silvanus was not so blessed. He really only worked in the wood shop because he had nowhere else to be or to go. In many respects he was a free spirit, and were it not for his older brother he would have just been a lost soul, aimless and without much direction.
The two had worked alongside their father in the shop for a number of years, but after his unexpected passing, followed less than a year after by the death of their mother as well they both lost a bit of their motivation. Fine craftsmanship is hard work, and even though it can pay well, the imbalance between the two brother’s talents kept them from turning a profit. Tiring of the work they settled for a much less demanding line of woodworking and signed an agreement to fulfill orders for the Roman Army. It was straightforward and fairly simple, but deep in their hearts the two brothers felt ashamed of what they had let their family business become, as well as how much they had turned their backs on and tarnished the legacy of their father’s memory.
Specifically, soon after his passing they had chosen to ignore one of his most solemn requests. When they were young, and soon after they had begun to help their father in the shop, he had made them swear to him that they would never take part in the death-dealing work of making crosses to be used in the Roman practice of crucifixions. He told them that such crosses ‘did not only torment and eventually kill the one who hung on them, but did the same to the soul of the one who had made the cross as well’.
Once he was gone however, and lured in by the amount of money they could make with such basic work with literally no attention to quality, they went back on their word. While she was alive, their mother was none too pleased with their decision, but she was in ill health and kept pretty much to herself in the house.
So, in short order the bulk of the brother’s work consisted pretty much solely of making crosses for the Roman army. Lukan and Silvanus had originally gravitated towards this work because it offered a steady and reliable contract and was actually quite profitable, and so for several years now, the Romans had a standing order in place which the brothers fulfilled and always delivered on time.
But of late they had grown tired of the somewhat mindless repetitiveness of the work. In addition, life seemed to be pulling at them in different directions, and cross making was really not fulfilling. Each of them was looking for something more, even though they couldn’t put their finger on it. After some time, the two finally came to a decision, deciding that when their current supply of heavy beams, along with an incoming order that was due in from Lebanon ran out, they would give up cross making forever and go back to their roots making household articles and the occasional art piece. Later on that week however, they learned that the shipment that was due in some two weeks before was not going to be coming at all, for the ship carrying the wood had come upon severe weather and had gone down along with all of its cargo. The brothers wondered if somehow this was not only a sign, but an affirmation as well that they had made the right choice in deciding to put an end to their involvement in this dark and troublesome work.
However, with the loss of that delivery they only had enough wood left to make a few more crosses. Earlier in the week they finished their only two outstanding cross orders, so when another rush order came in on Friday morning, they got right to work. Scouring the shop for wood for the third and last cross, Silvanus found two suitable beams against the back wall under a pile of scrap lumber. The beams were extraordinarily heavy and large, and as such had been set aside by their father years before in order to make something special. But as they were the only two beams left they decided to use them.
After pulling them out and dusting them off they remembered why they had been saved years before. The grain of the wood was starkly and beautifully striped with patterns of dark and light wood, reputedly because the huge Lebanon Cedar from which the beams were originally milled had been struck by lightning some years prior to harvest. Somehow the tree had survived and miraculously healed itself from the damage caused by the massive bolt of electricity. The only scars that remained were the incredibly beautiful striations in the grain. Both Lukan and Silvanus hated to use it for such a base purpose, but those two beams were all they had left.
As they had worked on the cross that morning the two agreed that they felt better and better about their decision to stop making crosses and to search for something else to which they could apply themselves. Perhaps they reasoned, they could learn to make yokes for donkeys or oxen or something. They had a childhood friend named Alon who had trained under another local carpenter named Joseph who was renowned for how well he could fit a yoke to the musculature of an animal. It was said that a perfectly fitted yoke would allow all of the energy of the animal to go into the work, making it seem as if it was not really working at all. Joseph had been able to train Alon in this fine art and now his yokes were in high demand as well. Perhaps they reasoned, their friend, who still lived nearby, could teach them what was needed to begin this line of work as well. Somehow this seemed like a much more noble and honorable line of work than their recent endeavors.
Shortly after midday there was a knock on the door of the shop. On opening the door they greeted a group of soldiers who had come looking for the three crosses. As the two were not able to even pick up the last one due to its weight, a group of four soldiers came in and carried it off along with the other two. After they had departed, Lucan and Silvanus just stood there in the empty woodshop, looking at one another, reflecting on the fact that they had just let their only secure source of income walk out of their shop. And while they were unsure what they were going to do next, they felt strangely relieved that they had made their last cross, and that the deep-seated guilt they had felt for so long finally seemed to be fading away.
Truly wanting to turn the page on their past, the two decided to go and visit their friend Alon that very afternoon. They had not seen him for a while, but they were anxious to speak with him, and to ask him if he might help them regarding their search for a new and less troubling line of woodworking. When they arrived at his house, his sister Miriam answered the door. She told them that her brother was out in the city, and had been gone for several days. She thought he might be over in the region known as Mishneh or the Second Quarter, saying that he had gone there quite often of late. However she indicated that he had seemed quite troubled all week, and for reasons that were unknown to her.
And so, after thanking her, the two brothers set off to find their friend over near the western hill of the city. As they neared the road leading out of the city towards Golgotha they heard a loud commotion on the road up in front of them and hurried ahead to see what was going on. As they drew near they saw a very large, strong man dragging the heavy cross they had just made, followed by what appeared to be a very broken and beaten individual with a crown of thorns pushed roughly down upon his head. And just a few steps behind this man they spied their friend Alon, walking along in the procession but not joining in whatsoever with the loud shouts and insults being hurled at the broken one by the angry crowd of onlookers.
As they passed through the city gates and began to climb the hill of death, Alon saw them and made his way over to the two brothers. Lucan and Silvanus saw the deep distress on their friend’s face and were careful not to reveal the fact that the cross being dragged up the hill by the stronger of the two men was in fact one of their own.
As he drew closer, Lukan could see that Alon was visibly upset to the point of tears. Struggling, Alon began to tell them what the raucous procession was all about. Not fully understanding at first, Silvanus interrupted, ‘Alon, why is that strong and seemingly innocent man dragging the cross up the hill going to be crucified’. ‘Oh no, it is not for him’, Alon replied, ‘no, it is for the other man following along behind’. And then he shared that the one being led to the crucifixion and subjected to all the rage and insults, was actually a beloved local rabbi from Galilee named Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary.
‘Oh, I have heard of him’, replied Lucan, ‘isn’t he the one the Hebrew authorities are so upset with, and isn’t he the one who has performed such amazing miracles over the past couple of years?’ ‘Yes he is’, said Alon, ‘and furthermore he was a dear friend of mine, as he was actually the eldest son of my teacher and mentor Joseph, God rest his soul. He was arrested on Thursday night after he was betrayed by one of his followers’, Alon continued. ‘He was accused of blasphemy and of speaking out against the Hebrew Law and faith, charges which were blatantly false! And somehow the HIgh Priest and Temple Authorities were able to convince the Roman Prelate to have him put to death immediately!’
Wincing, Lucan could hold back no longer as he tearfully began, ‘Oh Alon, I am so sorry. You know that Silvanus and I started making crosses several years ago, and had just recently decided to give it up as it was slowly but surely tearing us apart on the inside. We agreed to take on one last order early this morning, and that is actually the cross being used to crucify your friend’! I am so, so sorry, I would never have…’ ‘Lukan, Lukan’ interrupted Alon, ‘Maybe it’s not the same one, don’t be so hard on yourself’. ‘No, I am sure’, said Lukan, ‘I would recognise those beams anywhere, Oh Alon, I don’t know what to say, our dear father warned us never to get involved in this work. I wish we had stopped sooner, I never would have accepted the order if I had only known. But it was a rush order and we were so determined to be done with the whole business that we accepted it, even though we had to use the last two pieces of wood in our shop to make it…’
As he was speaking, Lucan noticed that Alon’s whole demeanor had softened and there was a look not only of understanding, but of deep compassion for his friends as well. Surprised by this transformation, Lucan stopped and just stared at Alon, wondering what he was thinking and not understanding why he seemed to be almost forgiving in the way he looked at them. ‘Lucan, Silvanus’, Alon began, ‘do not blame yourselves, there was no way you could have known. And besides, having walked with Jesus for some time now, I knew this day was coming. He had said so himself many times, even though some of his followers denied that it was possible. And as horrible as it now seems, I have faith that this story is not over. I am not sure why I feel that way, but in truth, it seems as though you two had an important part to play in what will one day prove to be an incredible story…I truly am broken and quite afraid, and I can’t believe this is happening to my dear friend whom I’ve known since childhood, but to the extent that I am able, I forgive you. Please know that I still treasure your friendship’.
The brothers and Alon continued to follow along behind the procession in silence, making their way to the top of the hill to where two other common criminals had already been nailed to crosses and screaming loudly had been heaved upright into place. Lucan had to turn away as he saw Jesus being nailed onto the beautifully striped wooden cross, blood running down across the dark and light striations. And then, there was a deathly silence as Jesus was hoisted up to die as well, he did not so much as moan as the cross was rudely seated in the hole prepared for it.
Lukan was completely heartbroken, sad, sorry, and filled with self loathing. He didn’t know what to say to his friend who was now kneeling down in the dust and sobbing uncontrollably. Searching for something to say or do for his friend, all he could hear was the echo of his father’s warning so many years before. Truly he felt as though he was dying right alongside of the three hanging there on the crosses which he and Silvanus had just recently completed.
After standing there next to Alon and a few others for several hours in tearful awkward silence, suddenly the sky blackened, and they heard Jesus say something about ‘forgive them Father’ just before he bowed his head and breathed his last. Suddenly bold streaks of lightning came thundering down all around them as the hillside was shrouded in complete and rainy darkness. Later on, Lucan would swear that one of the bolts looked as though it came right down to the cross upon which Jesus hung there lifeless.
And with that both Lucan and Silvanus turned and fled back down the hill, leaving their friend behind as he continued to kneel in prayer. They were almost paralyzed with with fear and guilt as they stumbled home in the strange midday gloom. Lukan was not at all sure, but he found himself hoping against hope that in those last few words, Jesus might have been asking God to forgive them for their part in all of this as well.
Now all of these events had taken place late on Friday afternoon, just before the Hebrew Sabbath was set to begin. As the two brothers went into their house, they could see others of their neighbors who were Jewish, hurrying home as they had to be inside before the sun set. Filled with remorse, Lucan and Silvanus both silently went to their rooms and laid down, tossing and turning throughout a sleepless and much troubled night.
The next morning, in an attempt to relieve some of their guilt the two went back to the Roman commander who had been their contact and asked him if there was any way they could have back the last cross they had made, as the wood used in it was special to them. The Commander absolutely refused, saying that a cross as well built and heavy as that one could be used many more times. Sadly, and now even more convicted by the fact that their last cross would be used as an instrument of death for many others, the two returned back home. They had hoped that they could make something else out of the two beams in an attempt to try and undo what they had both been a part of, as well as to perhaps ease some of the guilt that was still eating both of them up.
It was quite early the next morning, when the brothers were awakened by a loud and very persistent knocking on their door. Opening the door they saw that it was Alon, who breathlessly began to relate a most amazing story.
‘Very early this morning’, he began, Joseph’s wife Mary and several other women who had been with Jesus went back to the tomb. They went in order to do a more proper preparation for burial than had been done before the start of the Sabbath on Friday evening. When they arrived however, the large stone which had been covering the entrance to the tomb had been rolled to the side and upon looking in, they saw that the tomb was empty and that the body of Jesus was missing!’ ‘Oh my goodness’, exclaimed Silvanus, ‘who would steal a body out of a grave?’ ‘No, you see, it wasn’t that at all’, continued Alon, ‘because while the women were standing there, afraid and unsure of what to do next, two men dressed in clothes that gleamed like lightning came and stood beside them. Terrified, the women bowed low with their faces to the ground. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”, asked one of the men. “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then the women remembered that Jesus had said this to them. After that the two men disappeared and the women ran back to the house where the disciples were staying, telling them everything they had seen and heard. At first they thought the women were talking nonsense, but Peter and a few other men went back to the tomb as well and found it empty, just as the women had said. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that so wonderful?’, Alon asked.
All the while Alon was telling of the morning’s incredible events, both Lukan and Silvanus felt strangely moved. The dark clouds of guilt and self-hatred that had been fully consuming them seemed to have suddenly been lifted up from deep within, as a new sense of profound peace settled over them both. Looking at each other, and recognizing that the same thing was happening to both of them, their eyes filled with tears. Although they had not known this man who had been crucified on a cross they had made, somehow they knew that the story their friend was sharing had to be true, somehow this man Jesus really had risen from death.
Noticing the change that had come over his friends as he was sharing, Alon grabbed them both in a huge embrace as the two brothers broke down sobbing, the last vestiges of guilt seeming to just wash away. ‘I told you it would be alright’, Alon began. ‘I knew deep in my heart that something like this would happen. There was no way that last Friday could have been the end of his story. I hoped that the rumors that Jesus would rise again were true when I first heard them, and now I see that indeed they were! That is why I was able to hear you tell me that you had made his cross, and still assure you that I thought it would be alright…don’t you see’?
‘I think I am just now beginning to see clearly’, said Lukan. ‘For so long now we have been empty and even aimless…life for both my brother and me was just a sad repetition…everyday we would go out into the shop and put our hand to the chisel…but somehow it all seemed pointless. We had no peace, no joy, no hope for the future, and worse, the memory of our parents hovered over us all the while, making us feel even sadder and more lonely. But now it seems that there really is something to live for, almost like we have been given a second chance. Now I understand why we felt so drawn to stop working with the Romans and to walk in a new direction. In fact Alon, we were going to ask you if you could help us, if you could teach us how to use our gifts in a way that was more noble, more meaningful…more…like it would make a difference.’
Releasing them from the embrace in which he had been holding them, Alon said, ‘I would love to, in fact why don’t you two come over to my house for dinner tonight. My wife is an amazing cook and we would love to share our table with you.’ And then winking at them, he continued, ‘and we can talk about how it is that the one who used your cross ‘only temporarily’ might now be able to lead you both onto a whole new pathway, one that is filled with blessings and promise’.
Once again, with tears in his eyes Lukan replied, ‘ I know I am speaking for both my brother and myself when I say that all that has happened over the last several days has shown us that you have something we desperately need. Yes, yes Alon, we will come with you.’ And with that the three departed for Alon’s home, where the grace of God began to work on their hearts in earnest.
It was about a week or so later that Lukan opened their door one morning to find the cross, now lying in two pieces on the ground. A note was attached to it from the Roman Commander. It read, ‘This wood is truly cursed’, the note began. ‘Not one of my soldiers will even touch it after the events of last Friday, and all that has gone on since. It is your wood, your cross, and we want nothing more to do with it..it is your curse now!’
Looking at each other, and not at all afraid of the pieces of wood, now miraculously given back to them, both Lukan and Silvanus knew exactly what they needed to do. After bringing the wood back into the shop, they asked their friend Alon to come over. After he had arrived, Lukan asked him, ‘Alon my friend, are either of these two pieces of wood useful in making a yoke for a team of oxen?’ Looking carefully and studying the two beams Alon replied, ‘this smaller of the two, the one used for the cross beam is actually perfect for a yoke. The grain is straight and true and shows great strength. But are you sure you want to use such a beautiful piece of wood for a common yoke?’ ‘Oh yes, we are sure’, replied Lukan, ‘we have been planning on doing this for some time now, and now that the wood is here we want to get started.’ ‘What about the other piece, the long beam with the amazing wide white stripe coursing right down the middle from top to bottom?’ Alon asked. ‘Oh I am sure that the Lord will guide us in how that special piece should be used to allow us to give thanks for all of our blessings’, said Silvanus. ‘Yes I am sure it will’, agreed Lukan…
…and it has been said, that the two brothers, under the careful tutelage of their friend Alon, became two of the finest wood workers in all of Jerusalem, known far and wide, not only for the beautiful light and dark striped serving bowls they made, but for their perfectly matched ox yokes which were well sought after…so adept had they become at truly understanding just how a well-fitted yoke, could make the work seem like nothing at all.
Happy Easter!
…amen
