The Offensive Cross

​The Offensive Cross
 
Galatians 5:11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
 
PAUL’S question indicates his opponents were saying he preached circumcision is necessary for salvation while at other times he said it is not. One way to discredit an opponent is to accuse him of doublespeak – he says one thing to one audience, and he says another thing to another audience. Bible teachers must always be sure they are attentive to God’s truth. An example of doublespeak in our culture today is the issue of sexual immorality. Some preachers proclaim the Bible’s truth. But the “official denomination authorities” submit to the lies of the culture. They please the ears of the sinful nature that wants to believe God ordains any form of sexual relationship.
    Paul assures the Galatians he has been consistent with his teaching. If he has not, then the offense of the cross has been abolished. What’s he mean? How is the cross offensive?  
    Jesus’ death on a cross is very offensive to the Jews. In truth, they were seeing Jesus’ death through his law in Deuteronomy 21:22-23a If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death, and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. (See here, too, why Jesus was taken from the cross before sundown.)
    It makes sense to the Jews, doesn’t it? How could Jesus be the long-prophesied Messiah? God cursed him! The cross was and is, indeed, offensive to the Jews.
    But in view of God’s Scriptures, we can see how this particular law is a part of God’s redemptive plan. Yes, a man on a tree is cursed. This is the reason Jesus submitted to the cross. He was sin’s curse fulfilling the law.
    Then Psalm 22:1-21 describes the crucifixion. Later, Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would take up our sins and be stricken: Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed…8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
    God placed sin’s curse on Jesus. If the Jews looked at the entire law, in the Psalms and the prophets, they would know Jesus is God’s Messiah to redeem his people. They know he submitted to the law, so he would reign forever over his beloved ones. The cross is not offensive to the Christian. It is the sign of God’s great devotion to his people to fulfill his salvation Promise.
    This is evidence for you, too. As you tell someone about Jesus, you can point to God’s specific plan to prepare for and reveal his Savior to the world. Jesus’ cursed death is for your blessed eternal life.