Roman Hospitality

Rome really didn’t think this through.

The Romans picked the cross because it was the worst thing they had. Painful. Public. Humiliating. A warning label you could see from a distance. The ancient equivalent of saying, “This ends here.” And Christians looked at that and said, perfect, that’s the logo. Put it on buildings. Necklaces. T-shirts. Tattoos. Cakes. Probably a hat.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved it is the power of God. Turns out what looks like failure depends entirely on who’s watching. Rome thought they were taking Jesus out of the game. Turns out killing God on a cross does not send the message you think it does. It just turns the warning label into the victory sign everyone keeps pointing at.

Questions for the Week and Strong:

1. What symbol of suffering are you very comfortable accessorizing?

2. Are you moved by the cross or just used to the shape?

3. What would stop feeling inspirational if it actually happened to you?

This Week in Prayer and Rounding Off the Sharp Parts:

God, help me stop prettying up the cross like it was a branding exercise. Jesus suffered there on my behalf, not for decoration. Help me honor that sacrifice without sanding off the parts that make me uncomfortable. Amen.