The horror and glory of the cross

Today, the cross is recognized as a beautiful symbol of Christianity, and the Red Cross is recognized around the world for helping people in need. But in New Testament time, the cross was something horrible. In fact, the word "cross" was so offensive that even well-bred pagan Romans tried not to use it, substituting some other phrase that sounded better, like "lifted up” or “hanged on the unlucky tree.” The cross was an instrument of torture and terror, designed to execute a person in a way that would strike fear into the heart of everyone who saw it. It was also a symbol of racism. A Roman would never be crucified - the cross was reserved for slaves or traitors. In the 1950s and 60s, the KKK used burning crosses to spread fear and intimidation through the American South; in much the same way, first-century Romans used crucifixion to remind the Jews of what would happen should they try to resist Rome.

So in Galatians 6, when Paul says that he would never brag about anything except for the cross, it was absolutely shocking. How could he take pride in a symbol of terror and oppression?

It's because Jesus changed the meaning of the cross forever. Paul recognized that the crucifixion of Christ was a life-changing death. It represents a total break from "the world" - that is, the warped value system and self-centered way of life that is everywhere around us. The cross changes our perspective, and we see that people are more important than money and character is more important than success. We see the horror of sin and the beauty of holiness.

Along with our perspective, the cross changes our heart. It actually enables us to follow Christ, to have a life that reflects God's value system, to have a soul that responds to the Spirit. Accepting Christ's death on the cross as your own is the single most powerful moment of your life - and it's a moment that will last for eternity.