The Scandal Of The Cross | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

The Scandal Of The Cross | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

In every corner of the world, people speak about Jesus. Muslims speak about Him, Buddhists mention Him, Hindus acknowledge Him, even New Age practitioners and others discuss Jesus. This universal acknowledgment tells us something profound: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense” (Romans 9:33). The term “stumbling” or “offense” in Greek is skandalon, which translates to a trap, snare, or something that causes offense. This prophecy, originating from the Hebrew Scriptures, describes the Messiah as a stumbling stone—a scandal to the world.

The Gospel itself is a scandal to those who do not know Him. While it offers life, it also challenges and offends, exposing the truths of sin and redemption. One significant aspect of this “scandal” is the cross.

The Scandal of the Cross

In Galatians, Paul refers to “the offense of the cross.” Why is the cross offensive? Because at its core, Christianity centers on what appears to be an unthinkable paradox: the execution of a man as a criminal. The symbol of our faith is an execution stake, akin to celebrating a noose, gallows, or electric chair. Imagine churches adorned with electric chairs or people wearing golden nooses as jewelry. Yet, the cross, once an instrument of brutal death, has become a symbol of hope, beauty, and salvation.

This transformation is a testament to the radical nature of God’s work. Only the Messiah, the Son of God, could take an object of death and turn it into a beacon of life. First Corinthians 1:23 states: “We proclaim Messiah crucified: to the Jews, a stumbling block, and to the Greeks, foolishness.” The cross convicts the world of sin, judges the flesh, and demonstrates the ultimate sacrifice.

Some churches today downplay the cross, but we must never lose sight of its significance. The cross is the heart of salvation, the starting point of redemption. The fact that such a radical faith could spread globally and become the most universal belief system is itself a miracle of God.

The Scandal of the God-Man

The second great scandal of Christianity is even more astonishing: the claim that Jesus Christ, a man from first-century Judea, is God Himself. Not merely a godly man, a messenger, or a divine representative—but God in human form. This claim stands apart from mythological tales of ancient pagan gods. Jesus lived in real time and space, in the land of Judea under the reign of Caesar Augustus and Tiberius.

This is no myth or legend. The idea that the infinite Creator of the universe became flesh, walked among us, and died on an execution stake is unparalleled. It defies human understanding and challenges the very foundation of worldly wisdom.

The Radical Faith of the Gospel

Christianity is unlike any other belief system. It proclaims a God who sacrifices Himself for humanity, a Messiah who turns shame into glory, and an eternal hope born from an instrument of death. This is the God scandal—a faith so radical, so transformative, that it offends and redeems at the same time.

Let us never diminish the cross or the profound truth of Christ’s divinity. It is in embracing these “scandals” that we find the heart of the Gospel, the power of salvation, and the unparalleled hope of eternal life.