Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel.  (Romans 1.16)  At first, it sounds so admirable but why would he be ashamed of the gospel?  Who would be ashamed of good news unless there was something about it that was a little odd.  Simply put, the gospel is a cosmic comedic tragedy.

>>>”The blues is the most profound interpretation of tragicomic hope in

America

.” Cornel West, Democracy Matters p216<<<

Paul said, “but we preach Christ crucified:  a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”  I wish I could preach the gospel like Paul.  I am too good at making it sound attractive.  But have you ever thought about those two words together:  Christ crucified.  How can that be?  Christ—the long awaited, anointed messiah of God—crucified.  Crucified—tortured, disgraced, suffering did nothing—Christ.  No wonder people had a hard time with it.  Jews needed rescuing from the Romans and Christ died at their hands.  The Romans respected power and crushed God with their might.  I wish I could get comfortable at making the gospel as absurd as it really is.

The gospel is a great reversal. 

Up is down. 

Right is left. 

            Death is life.

                        Christ crucified!