The Offense of the Cross

The cross serves as a pivotal point of offense for various groups throughout history, notably the Jews, Romans, and Greeks. For the Jews, the idea that righteousness hinged solely on the crucifixion of Jesus radically contradicted centuries of religious tradition centered on the Law and sacrifices. Meanwhile, to the Romans, the concept of a crucified man being hailed as a conquering king was an absurd contradiction to their ideals of power and military strength. Lastly, for the Greeks who valued physical perfection, the image of a mutilated body hanging on a cross clashed violently with their beliefs about beauty and strength, thus rendering the message of the cross both scandalous and challenging to accept.