It certainly must seem rather morbid! It would have been even worse in the first century, when everyone knew that crucifixion was not only a very slow and painful way to die, but a shameful way, too, because the person was stripped naked and hung up on public display. An early preacher, the apostle Paul, wrote that everyone found it hard to accept, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor 1:22-24)

However, Jesus himself had insisted this was at the heart of his ministry. "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Luke 9:22) His death was necessary to deal with our sin. As he hung dying on the cross, he bore away the guilt of sin. "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." (2 Cor 5:19)

After his resurrection, Jesus wanted the good news of his death and resurrection to be made known. He told his apostles, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49)

This is what the apostles did, and Christians have been making a fuss about it ever since.