The Offensive Nature of the Cross
If it is difficult to accept that God became man, then His sacrificial death is even harder to believe. So it should come as no surprise when people are offended by the message of the cross. In fact, to the heart unmoved by God, the message of the crucified Christ can do nothing but offend.
First, the cross offends human decency. The cross was a vile instrument of death, cruel by anyone’s standards. The Jews viewed crucifixion as a curse from God (Deut. 21:23), reserved for blasphemers and idolaters. For Messiah to be identified with such sinners was detestable; for Him to be crucified like them was unthinkable. The Romans reserved crucifixion for notorious criminals, rebellious slaves, and those committing treason. Cicero, a Roman statesman, political theorist, and philosopher, wrote, “This very word ‘cross’ should be removed not only from the person of a Roman citizen but from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears.” Even basic human decency recoils at the shame and horror of the cross.
Next, the cross offends human wisdom, which marvels at new and complex ideas and develops philosophies to explain the world in which we live. It elevates the powerful, the intellectual, and the wealthy. Consequently, human wisdom thinks it intellectually irresponsible to believe such a foolish message as that of the cross. But in Isaiah 55:8 God declares, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” and Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” The message of the cross is, by God’s design and for His glory, contrary to everything glorified by human wisdom.
Finally, the cross offends human pride. The inclination of natural man (as opposed to the man led by the Spirit) is to deny his depravity and believe he is basically good. He admits his imperfection, but is convinced he can overcome his weaknesses through self-effort, looking to Jesus merely as an example to follow or a great moral teacher. But Jesus did not come to show man how to improve himself, for all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and are powerless to escape the condemnation of the Law. Rather, Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28), declaring, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). This means salvation lies totally outside man himself, in the person and work of Christ, and leaves no place for human pride.
As fallen human beings, the message of the cross offends us in every way. Nevertheless, it is at the heart of the gospel, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16), and no one is saved apart from it. But the offense continues unless God gives eyes to see and ears to hear. This is why Jesus told His disciples, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44).
First, the cross offends human decency. The cross was a vile instrument of death, cruel by anyone’s standards. The Jews viewed crucifixion as a curse from God (Deut. 21:23), reserved for blasphemers and idolaters. For Messiah to be identified with such sinners was detestable; for Him to be crucified like them was unthinkable. The Romans reserved crucifixion for notorious criminals, rebellious slaves, and those committing treason. Cicero, a Roman statesman, political theorist, and philosopher, wrote, “This very word ‘cross’ should be removed not only from the person of a Roman citizen but from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears.” Even basic human decency recoils at the shame and horror of the cross.
Next, the cross offends human wisdom, which marvels at new and complex ideas and develops philosophies to explain the world in which we live. It elevates the powerful, the intellectual, and the wealthy. Consequently, human wisdom thinks it intellectually irresponsible to believe such a foolish message as that of the cross. But in Isaiah 55:8 God declares, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” and Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” The message of the cross is, by God’s design and for His glory, contrary to everything glorified by human wisdom.
Finally, the cross offends human pride. The inclination of natural man (as opposed to the man led by the Spirit) is to deny his depravity and believe he is basically good. He admits his imperfection, but is convinced he can overcome his weaknesses through self-effort, looking to Jesus merely as an example to follow or a great moral teacher. But Jesus did not come to show man how to improve himself, for all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and are powerless to escape the condemnation of the Law. Rather, Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28), declaring, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). This means salvation lies totally outside man himself, in the person and work of Christ, and leaves no place for human pride.
As fallen human beings, the message of the cross offends us in every way. Nevertheless, it is at the heart of the gospel, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16), and no one is saved apart from it. But the offense continues unless God gives eyes to see and ears to hear. This is why Jesus told His disciples, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44).
