(John 12:24)
Affliction, being thus redemptive, was in consequence itself redeemed; «Christ crucified,» whom Paul rightly called a stumblingblock to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, was proclaimed as the wisdom and power
of God; (I Corinthians 1:23 - 24) and, not stopping with any negative apologetic to explain the
cross, the early Christians positively gloried in it (Galatians 6:14) and made it their ambition to know «the fellowship
of his sufferings.»