“We preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED” (1 Cor 1:23). What self-respecting Jew would ever glory in a cross, the embodiment of a curse and shame? Erich Sauer writes in his classic In the Arena of Faith: Years ago we were in the Colosseum…the scene of Nero’s persecution of Christians…What streams of martyr blood had flowed on this very spot…But what did we see in the arena, in the very center, directly in front of the ruins of the royal box? A CROSS! About the year 1300, a cross was erected here in memory of the martyrs. In the course of time it was lost. In 1927, it was again erected by order of the Italian government, with this…inscription on its base: “Ave crux spes unica,” that is “Hail to thee, O Cross, the only hope!”…The temples of the heathen and the palaces of their rulers have sunk in dust; but the temple of the church remains. How is this? Because Christ has triumphed, we also can conquer. His cross is at once the sign of victory, of duty, and of promise for all who believe on Him.