We are often told that ancient societies, such as Israel, were ‘honour-shame’ cultures.

How does the relate to the crucifixion of Jesus?

To be sure, crucifixion was not only a terribly painful death, but also a shameful one.

We see something of the humiliation of Jesus’ death in Mark’s Gospel.  Abandoned by his friends, tortured, and hung up (probably naked) to endure a lingering death in full public view.  And yet Mark communicates a certain honour to that which most would have found utterly shameful.  For the tortured figure is God’s Messiah.

For John, one the other hand, the crucifixion is not primarily about sufferin and humiliation, but  honour and glory.

The apostle Paul captures these two aspects of the cross – its shame and honour.  Preaching ‘Christ crucified’ was a ‘stumbling block’ to Jews and ‘foolishness’ to Gentiles (1 Cor 1:23).  But for those who believe, the message of the crucified Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).  God has chosen what is foolish in the world to ‘shame the wise’ and what is weak in the world to ‘shame the strong’ (1 Cor 1:27).

‘In other words, Paul indicates that what would be perceived as deeply degrading, dishonorable and horrifying (the crucifixion) is actually an indication of God’s power and wisdom. In effect, Paul seems to be saying that weakness, suffering, and a horrible execution—all deemed dishonorable in the ancient world—are actually manifestations of God’s power.’

Based on this article by Alicia J. Batten