When a crucifixion victim was nailed to his cross, a notice was pinned to the structure as well.  The notice informed the onlookers of the victim’s name and crime.  It was part of the final Roman humiliation.  Even after a long gruesome death, the victim’s dishonor could not be hidden.  For in his lowest state he could not remain anonymous.  Historians believe that Pontius Pilate even capitalized on Jesus’ death by giving a final jab to the Jewish people.  Pilate hung a notice over Jesus’ head reading INRI: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.  But in an ironic way, the early followers of Jesus found a special meaning in the message. 

Though meant to be a slap of insult by this Roman tyrant to the Jewish populace, the Christians perceived the obvious truth that was there.  Jesus was indeed the Jewish Messiah-King.  And he had fulfilled what the Hebrew prophets’ had foretold—that a servant anointed by God would take upon himself the suffering of his people, and in doing so, would finally bring them back from exile into the kingdom of God (Is 52:13-53:12).

The grisly cross, invented by the Persians and perfected by the Romans, had the same bizarre sort of transformation within the community of those early Christians.  What was ugliest and lowliest became a picture of strength and victory.  In fact, the transformation was so radical that it is difficult for us today to appreciate the distain and dishonor of its image.  Still, the cross today stands as the most familiar icon around the world.  This man Jesus, hailed as the “God-man” by his closest followers, has become a figure that we cannot seem to get away from.  Whether in devotion or distain, he is invoked by philosophers, sufferers, followers, and scoffers. 

Reflect upon how USC philosopher Dallas Willard hits this point home in his book, The Divine Conspiracy. 

“Along with two thieves, he was executed by the authorities about two thousand years ago.  Yet today, from countless paintings, statues, and buildings, from literature and history, from personality and institution, from profanity, popular songs, and entertainment media, from confession and controversy, from legend and ritual—Jesus  stands quietly at the center of the contemporary world, as he himself predicted.  He so graced the ugly instrument on which he died that the cross has become the most widely exhibited and recognized symbol on earth.”

The astounding realization is that Jesus not only transforms images like sign notices and crosses, but more importantly, he renovates human lives.  He takes the shattered and fragmented pieces of life and ‘mosaics’ them.  And just as he did to the “formless,” “empty,” and “dark” reality of space and time which he created in the beginning (Gen 1:2), so he reaches down into our lives with the same creative, redemptive love.  And he brings about beauty and meaning that reflect his own.