"The cross was an unspeakably brutal method of slow torture and execution.
"The device was so horrific and the social shame of experiencing crucifixion was so bad that the body of a crucified person couldn’t be buried in a Jewish tomb alongside the bodies or bones of other people. The Romans had perfected this cruelty and used its public display to give nightmares to anyone who dare challenge the empire.
"Writers from the first century sometimes avoided using the term “crucified,” preferring “the extreme penalty” or some other euphemism. The word itself carried such weight of terror that it was, perhaps subconsciously, dodged.
"It’s hard for us to easily grasp something that people in the first century would have understood immediately. If Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified for us then the shame and suffering that he went through was such that we can’t overstate how bad our sin is or how much love he has for us. This, this is how extreme my sin is. And this, this is how incredible God’s love for me is.
"Nor can we hesitate to endure any measure of suffering or loss for his name. He took up the cross and called us to take up our cross and follow him.
"All the way to the grave and to eternal life."