Make the Cross Great Again

How the Crucifixion of the Son of God Redefines Success and Victory

We still don’t really understand the cross, do we? Of course, it’s not surprising we struggle to comprehend it and all of its implications. The cross is a beautiful, wonderful, mysterious paradox. A device of torture, humiliation, scorn, and ridicule, but also the ultimate instrument of victory. That paradoxical nature is the whole point. If we want to know and follow Christ, we must learn how the cross turns greatness, success, and victory upside down.

Who is the Greatest?

Not unlike today, people in the first century seemed to think a lot about greatness. They thought about their personal greatness, their nation’s greatness, the greatness of their leaders, the greatness of their military’s might, and the greatness of their symbols and monuments. Jews wanted to make Jerusalem great again, Greeks wanted to make Greece great again, and Romans wanted to prove Rome was the G.O.A.T.

Proving you are the biggest and baddest, the smartest, the richest, the most powerful, the most successful, the most…whatever is a contest as old as time. Even Jesus’ closest companions spent time arguing “with one another about who was the greatest” (Mark 9:34).

This pursuit of personal, tribal, and national glory is natural. However, by “natural” I mean, of the flesh. It is an aspect of our humanity that is corrupt, broken, and revealing of our weakness. Jesus explicitly and repeatedly redefined what makes someone “great” (Greek, megas):

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus condemned the world’s pursuit and definition of greatness. He rejected their attempts to “lord over” others. He called his followers to become servants and slaves, to be last rather than first. Most importantly, as the one who is truly the greatest, Jesus set an example of humility and self-giving love by dying on the cross.

Humility and Greatness

Unfortunately, I’m afraid we often rob Jesus’ words of their power through modern concepts like “servant leadership.” We tend to use the broad umbrella of “serving”—as in, doing something we believe is in the best interest of others—to justify our mass accumulation of wealth and the pursuit of power, influence, and glory.

This is not what Jesus had in mind. In the ancient world, there were plenty of “great ones” lording over others and exercising authority, who also believed they were “serving” the best interests of the people under them.

However, Jesus wasn’t just telling his disciples to practice the activity of serving. He was telling them to embrace the social position of being a “servant” and “slave.” He was telling them to seek a lower seat at the table, give up their own honor and glory, and perhaps even be humiliated for the sake of others. That was unheard of in the ancient world.

We may say we want to be “servant leaders,” but do we intentionally do things that cost us honor, glory, clout, or (as the kids say) “aura”? We serve people, of course, but not when we know it will make us look weak or embarrass us. We rarely—if ever—give up power, prestige, or privilege. We serve, but only when it is to our social advantage (or at least not to our disadvantage) to do so.

The cross teaches us the greatness of truly sacrificing and humbling ourselves for the sake of others.

The Shame or Glory of the Cross

The sadistic genius of Roman crucifixion was not in the physical pain it inflicted. Of course, the pain was excruciating, but crucifixion was not just about torture and execution. It was really about public humiliation and shame.

Rome was making a statement to anyone who challenged her greatness, “You will be humbled in the most embarrassing way. We will prove to you—and to the world—you are weak and impotent, we are strong and powerful.” Any challenge to the greatness and glory of Rome was met with domineering brutality.

This, of course, is still how the world’s “great ones” (Matthew 20:25) think and operate. They still flex their muscles. They demonstrate their “power” and “strength” by publicly humiliating opponents, rebels, and perceived criminals. This is the mentality of worldly, fleshly people who think greatness is the power to dominate and humiliate.

Jesus, however, refused to be shamed by them. He refused to be humiliated. Though he endured being insulted, tortured, spit upon, stripped naked, and nailed to a piece of wood, he considered this event to be his enthronement ceremony. Jesus called it being “lifted up” (John 12:32-33). He turned the shame and humiliation of the cross into glory.

In other words, Jesus considered it an honor to be shamed by a shameful world. Their rejection meant God’s acceptance. No matter what they did, the “great ones” of Jerusalem and Rome did not actually have the power to shame Jesus, because he did not recognize them as great. He despised their shame (Hebrews 12:2).

The Greatness of Your Cross

What does this have to do with us? What does this have to do with the way we think of greatness, power, success, victory, and winning? We tend to think Jesus suffered the mistreatment and humiliation of the cross so we don’t have to. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus’ call to discipleship has always been, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Being a follower of Jesus means we join him in rejecting the world’s definitions of greatness, victory, and success. We refuse to bow to the idols of wealth, power, comfort, pleasure, and fame. Rather than pursuing advancement, we…

• look for a lower seat at the table

• associate with “nobodies” and misfits

• do the jobs people consider beneath them

• redirect attention away from ourselves

• relish obscurity

This path—the way of the cross—is not easy. We feel the social pressure and shame, because we don’t pursue “normal” pursuits, or spend time and money in “normal” ways. People question our loyalty and allegiance, because we don’t support the political “strongman”¹ or the “great ones.” We are seen as weak and cowardly because we turn the other cheek and love our enemies.

But we must do as Jesus did, despise their shame. Consider it an honor to be shamed by shameful people.

Conclusion

In the eyes of the world, what makes a person or a nation great, successful, or victorious? Isn’t it things like:

• wealth

• beauty

• fame

• influence

• strength

• talent

However, the cross is all about God choosing “what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” and choosing “what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). The cross says to the powerful, “Your definition of success and victory is WRONG. You try to shame others through domination, humiliation, and violence. However, what you perceive as weak and foolish (the cross) is actually shaming you.”

Those who are following Christ understand that in order to truly win, we must lose at the game the world is playing:

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:24-25).

Taking up our cross seems (to the world) weak and foolish. That is the whole point! However, “the word of the cross” is actually “the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The cross—not beauty, wealth, strength, or influence—is the definition of real greatness and power.

Let’s learn to see the greatness of the cross; and learn to see greatness through the cross.

I love you and God loves you,

Wes McAdams

1. Merriam-Webster: “one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods”