The death of Christ on...
Illustration
The death of Christ on a cross can become either a stumbling block or a bridge in one's faith. For biblical literalists in Jesus' day, his death on a cross was a certain sign that he was not the Messiah. After all, Deuteronomy 21:23 clearly states that anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse. For pagans, Jesus' death on a cross was a certain sign that he was a nobody. As Arnobius (c. 300 C.E.) wrote, "We are not angry with you [Christians] because you worship the omnipotent God, but because you pay daily homage to a man ... who was put to death in a way that is a disgrace even to the vile." For the early followers of Jesus, his death on a cross was a sacrifice that reconciled them to God and sanctified them. Today we tend to forget the manner and the effect of Christ's death. The clean lines of bright metal crosses on altars or in jewelry numb our senses. We are left with the vague impression that the cross was sort of a Man of the Year Award bestowed on Jesus by a grateful Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce. -- Bristow
