A cross is a large, long piece of wood that people place into the ground. This piece of wood is much larger and longer than a human. A cross also has another large piece of wood that is attached to the other piece of wood. It is attached in a way that makes the shape of a “t,” “T,”or “x.” That is, the “t,” “T,”or “x” in the Latin alphabet.
During the Roman Empire, the Roman government killed criminals by tying or nailing them to a cross. The criminals stayed on the cross until they died from losing too much blood and not being able to breathe. The word “cross” in the Bible means a physical cross.
The Romans killed Jesus on a cross. The Jewish leaders told the Romans that Jesus did things to disobey the law of Moses. Jesus did not actually do these things, but the Jewish leaders wanted the Romans to crucify him.
In addition to Jesus’ physical death, the word “cross” is also used to talk about all things Jesus’ death means. The law of Moses said that anyone hung on a tree is cursed (see: Deuteronomy 21:23). Jesus himself was not cursed, but humanity was cursed because people sinned. Jesus took the punishment for all people when he died. He did this because all people sinned and deserved to die for their sinning. But Jesus died instead of all people. He died to take the punishment for sinning from all the people who believe in him (see: Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24).
Being crucified on a cross was the most shameful way to die during New Testament times. It was shameful because the person was said to be a criminal and hung naked for all to see him. People who do not believe in Jesus think that Jesus dying on a cross to save people from being punished for their sin is foolish (see: 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23; 2:14; Hebrews 12:2). Paul taught that God uses the things that people think are foolish to do what he needs to do. God wanted to shame people who thought they were wise. Also, he wanted to use what no one would have thought possible to save people from being punished for sinning (see: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31). For the people who believe in Jesus, the cross is God powerfully saving people from being punished for sinning. It is also God defeating evil (see: 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 2:15). Therefore, those who believe in Jesus are not to be prideful about what they have done. Instead, they should only boast about what God did for them through Jesus dying on a cross (see: Galatians 6:14).
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