This piece of graffiti found near the Palatine Hill in Rome (1st to late 3rd century CE) depicts what appears to be a young man with his hand extended possibly in worship towards a crucified man with the head of a donkey, the inscription Αλεξαμενος ϲεβετε θεον translated, "Alexamenos worships his god".  For more information see the link below.

This is a reminder that the idea that God is revealed to us in a crucified Christ is foolishness and a scandal to the human mind.  Christ, as God, is rejected by humanity, condemned as a criminal, defeated by the power of the Roman empire, crucified in suffering, anguish, isolation, abandonment and death.    The risen Christ on Easter is celebrated as the conqueror of sin and death having been vindicated by God, raised as Lord.  Holy Week is an opportunity to focus on both of these important events, one is not complete without the other.  The risen Christ is the Christ crucified still bearing the wounds on his hands and feet.  Likewise, the crucified Christ is the risen Christ, that meets death as God "for" us.  So, a two fold promises exists, firstly, that Jesus is the kind of high priest that can relate to our suffering and secondly, that Jesus becomes the agent of God's transforming power uniting us with God in Christ.  In the cross of Jesus, we encounter the crucified Christ rejected by humanity or in the words of Karl Barth, rejected by the church, revealing something about our own humanity, our rejection of God.  Here we encounter a God that we do not expect.  Therefore, in this mystery of Christ's sacrifice, the world is reconciled to God.   Even though we reject the Christ, even mock at the seemingly ridiculous claims made, of what seems utterly foolish, there is where God meets the deepest human needs.

article off site on the ancient graffiti