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Yet, when you think about the cross, it’s a tough sell. I mean the symbol of the NFL is a trophy. Other religions have symbols which are neutral.

I mean, look at these religious symbols. The Jews have the star of David. Islam is a star and crescent. Hinduism is the brahman. Bahai is the 9 pointed star. Buddhism is the dharma wheel. Daoism is the tai symbol of peace. And so on.

None of these are really offensive. But then we get to Christianity and our symbol is an apparatus which was a tool of torture and death. Wouldn’t a better symbol have been a round circle? That would symbolize the empty tomb.

So, it’s bad enough Jesus died on the cross, but now He insists that we pick up our own cross - - - and do it daily. UGH!! That’s not a great public relations slogan. Hey come and be a Christian and pick up your cross (you know that tool of death) and let’s do it daily. Come on, it’ll be fun!

In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul talks about how the world sees the cross – in verse 18 he wrote - - -

SLIDE18 For the word of the cross is folly (foolishness) to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For those living in the first century the cross was the ultimate symbol of weakness.

For many, then and now, the message of the Gospel – that God came to earth in the form of man and was crucified – is complete foolishness.

I mean why would God use a symbol of torture, of death, of weakness to save the world? I suppose the idea of the cross seems more appealing to us because it’s no longer used to execute people and we’ve dressed it up.

If a first century Jew came in and saw an illuminated cross hanging from our walls – they would think we were messed up. Imagine people walking around with jewelry which showed a guillotine or an electric chair hanging around their neck. The cross meant torture, guilt and weakness.

Yet, I believe that’s exactly God’s point. That’s what makes the cross so beautiful. God takes what, from a human perspective, is foolish - - - and He chooses what has no glory and honor. He finds the least likely symbol for love and life and says, “I’ll use that.”

God takes what the world says is foolish, demeaning, and shameful, and says “watch this” and turns it into the power of salvation.

To those who reject Christ, it’s foolishness, but to those who believe, the cross comes with power and hope and life. That’s the irony of the cross.

God turns the foolishness of the cross into the power of salvation. Jump down to verses 22 - 25, Paul tells us - - -

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. - 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Who else but God could take a cross that represented defeat – and turn it into a symbol of victory?

Only God could take a cross that represented guilt – and turn it into the symbol for grace?