Crude contempt at Christ on the Cross
The above graffiti found in Rome (A.D. 200–250) shows a man kneeling before a crucified figure with a donkey’s head. This is an example of the contempt shown toward the importance placed by Christians on Christ’s crucifixion. The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth is the central event of the New Testament. The term “Cross of Christ” has come to stand for all that went into and flows out from that event. The cross of Christ points to the violent death of Jesus by means of a heinous Roman method of execution reserved for slaves and enemies of the state. This central event, therefore, is at the same time the “scandal” (Gal 5:11) of the Christian faith. Torturous executions of the ancient world had found their worst form in crucifixion. Josephus called it “the most wretched of deaths.” Already in Jesus’ own ministry “bearing your cross” was a mark of discipleship (Mark 8:34; Matt 10:38; 16:24; Luke 9:23; 14:27) and seemed to mark a readiness to follow even unto death for C...