--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The point of trying to understand the…" description: "\"“The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can congratulate ourselves for having solved an intellectual crossword puzzle, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/n-t-wright-1173_cross_the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cr_43473.png" --- # The point of trying to understand the cross better is not… ![“The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can congratulate ourselves for having solved an intellectual crossword puzzle, but so that God’s power and wisdom may work in us, through us, and out into the world that still regards Jesus’s crucifixion as weakness and folly.” quote by N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/n-t-wright-1173_cross_the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cr_43473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/n-t-wright-1173_cross_the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cr_43473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/n-t-wright-1173_cross_the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cr_43473.png) > ““The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can congratulate ourselves for having solved an intellectual crossword puzzle, but so that God’s power and wisdom may work in us, through us, and out into the world that still regards Jesus’s crucifixion as weakness and folly.”” [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the cross is meant to transform believers, letting divine power shape them and influence a world that misreads Christ’s sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Cross as catalyst for divine transformation. Key Takeaway The cross should change us, not just impress us. Themes theology spiritual formation suffering redemption cultural misunderstanding Mood reverent hopeful challenging Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal spiritual growth - teaching about the crucifixion - addressing skepticism about Christianity - guiding believers in suffering Key Concepts Christology divine empowerment human weakness Practical Applications - preaching that inspires action - writing devotional material Questions to Reflect On - How does the cross challenge our self‑importance? - In what ways can we embody Christ’s power in daily life? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Righteousness and love, law and grace, life and death, as well as time and eternity all intersect at the cross; displaying a divine wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cook/righteousness-and-love-law-and-grace-life-and-death-as-well-as-time/) Steven Cook > [Unless I understand the Cross, I cannot understand why my commitment to what is right must be precedence over what I prefer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/unless-i-understand-the-cross-i-cannot-understand-why-my-commitment/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“There is an anchor for the soul at the cross of Christ, and it is saying to you today, ‘I love you.’ Yes, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/there-is-an-anchor-for-the-soul-at-the-cross-of-christ-and-it-is/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [Those who understand the cross increasingly see their sin as God does, and therefore begin to feelabout sin as does God. We begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-farley/those-who-understand-the-cross-increasingly-see-their-sin-as-god-does/) William F. Farley > [“P. T. Forsyth, the English Congregationalist, wrote in The Cruciality of the Cross (1909): Christ is to us just what his cross is. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/p-t-forsyth-the-english-congregationalist-wrote-in-the-cruciality-of/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“The New Testament insists, in book after book, that when Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross, something happened as a result of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-new-testament-insists-in-book-after-book-that-when-jesus-of/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“The church is never more in danger than when it sees itself simply as the solution-bearer and forgets that every day it too must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-church-is-never-more-in-danger-than-when-it-sees-itself-simply-as/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. 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I don't want to be too predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-do-enjoy-intense-bloodthirsty-action-but-i-like-to-blend-and-cross/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## More by N.T. Wright > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“The very mention of crucifixion was taboo in polite Roman circles, since it was the lowest form of capital punishment, reserved for slaves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-very-mention-of-crucifixion-was-taboo-in-polite-roman-circles/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Sunday, kept as a commemoration of Easter ever since that event itself (a quite remarkable phenomenon when you come to think about it), is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/sunday-kept-as-a-commemoration-of-easter-ever-since-that-event-itself/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“there is no such thing as a god’s-eye view (by which would be meant a Deist god’s-eye view) available to human beings, a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-god-s-eye-view-by-which-would-be-meant-a/) [N.T. 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Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“As C. S. Lewis regularly remarked, the chronological snobbery of the modern age (i.e. the assumption that anything that comes after around 1750 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/as-c-s-lewis-regularly-remarked-the-chronological-snobbery-of-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“The kingdom of God is, at its heart, about God’s sovereignty sweeping the world with love and power, so that human beings, each made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-kingdom-of-god-is-at-its-heart-about-god-s-sovereignty-sweeping/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“pre-Christian Judaism, including the disciples during Jesus’s lifetime, never envisaged the death of the Messiah. That is why they never thought of his resurrection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/pre-christian-judaism-including-the-disciples-during-jesus-s-lifetime/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“what we notice in Mark 10 is something which seems to operate in a different dimension. For a start, it is a call, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/what-we-notice-in-mark-10-is-something-which-seems-to-operate-in-a/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) [Explore all 278 N.T. Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## More Cross quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. 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I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [There is a very thin line dividing characterisation from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. 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