Thursday, February 22, 2018
1 Corinthians 1:22-25 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED ... TO THE GREEKS FOOLISHNESS (3)
Earlier in this chapter the apostle had written: "... the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God..." (v. 18).
Note what the worldly wise consider foolishness--not "Christ" but "the message of the cross." Similarly, in another epistle Paul warns against those who are "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18).
In the book of Acts is evidence of the unpopularity of the preaching of a crucified Savior. After Paul had preached the gospel in Athens, another city in Greece, we're told: "Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered Him. And some said, What does this babbler want to say? Others said He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods, because He preached to them Jesus and the resurrection..." (Acts 17:18).
Bottom line: The account of a crucified Jew who claimed to save the world of sinners by dying in their behalf insulted the human wisdom and philosophic logic of these ancient Greeks.
But is it any different today? The wise of this world don't mind talk of Jesus Christ as a good man, a good moral example, even a great prophet or philosopher. But a theology of the cross--the proclamation of a crucified and risen Christ--is a different story. That is plain foolishness!
By contrast, through the power of that same gospel, many are called to saving faith in the Crucified. We are among them, and so we love to confess and sing:
In the Cross of Christ I glory, Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time.
All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the Cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.
(Lutheran Service Book, 427:1-2,. 4)
