When we reflect on the cross, we often think of the pain. Some portray it as the most painful of deaths. From my perspective it may or may not have been the most painful or most bloody - I am not sure we can tell. But I think for the authors of scripture the issue is that of shame, not pain. Crucifixion was an act of total degradation. The Romans would not even speak the word. Paul does not refer to cross or crucifixion in his letter to the Romans. Even we now do not portray it without coving up some of the shame, at least putting a loincloth on Jesus. Isaiah says, “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; My face I did not hide from insults and spitting.” Tearing out the beard, spitting, and insults are acts of shaming.” Total dehumanization, total rejection. And he went that low for us.
