A Scandalous Cross

“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23 CSB)

Crucifixion expressed the epitome of human brutality. It was a form of execution reserved for the worst of criminals, designed to make a clear statement to onlookers. It was pure brutality, intended to inflict the maximum amount of pain, suffering, degradation, and humiliation on an individual for as long as possible. Death was inevitable and rarely quick.

We tend to view the crucifixion of Jesus as something the Jews and the Romans did to Him. To be sure, they are the ones who crucified Jesus. The reality, however, is that you and I are the ones who actually did it. Our sins nailed Him to the cross, and that is the brutal truth of the crucifixion. Just as a photograph is a representation of a physical reality, so the crucifixion of Jesus is a representation of an awful reality regarding our sins.

Ever since the gospel message was proclaimed, people have tried to explain away the cross or otherwise deflect its impact. The Jews did not like the idea of the cross very much. They demanded signs from God to prove truth, to show that the cross was a necessity, and they considered the cross a “stumbling block.” The word translated as “stumbling block” literally gives us our word “scandal.” The cross was scandalous to them because the law said, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” How could it be that something considered cursed by God could actually be the instrument of man’s redemption? Many Jews thus “stumbled” over the cross.

The Greeks were into philosophy and wisdom, ideas and concepts, things that make sense, that had some logic to them. From that viewpoint, the idea of crucifixion did not fit and made no sense at all. How could such a brutal event possibly help someone understand the rudimentary tenets of life and logic and produce a better life? Thus, many Greeks also “stumbled” at the “foolishness” of the cross.

In reality, Christians are left with the raw truth of the cross. The message of the cross – the sin of man confronted by the love of God – is the only one we have. For those of us who have received the message and are being saved, the cross is the power of God. And we dare not make any attempt to dilute it. To pander to the world’s demands to “soften” the message of the cross would be to rob it of its power. That we must not do. We preach Christ crucified.

Father, Remind us today that we live in a world that needs to be offended by its own sin, and help us to remain fully true to the message You want preached. Amen.