The Foolishness of the Cross

Hey guys, good to see everyone tonight, we began to speak last week about this idea of the cross and how it is central to the Christian faith. We began by asking the question “what can God do with a cross?”

When we scan other religions Christianity stands out as odd because all other religions have a idea of God that He is impersonal, he doesnt care about you really, in all other religions they have rules and as long as those rules are followed then maybe you can appease him and possibly even get rewards of some kind. But overall these religions have a subject as god who is ALL POWERFUL and does whatever he wants but truly does not care about the individuals involved.

Christianity stands out because God not only loves his people but sent His only son to die for thier redemption, to buy them out of slavery and bring them into freedom and give them and eternal inheritance!

For years the Jews waited on thier messiah, the “chosen one” to come and rescue them.... but their idea of recuse was Earthly in nature. They had been under harsh governmental bondage for some time. Living under the thumb of Rome and so in the minds of the Jewish people they were wating on thier savior, and this savior was supposed to be the King he was supposed to ride in adn overthrow the Romans and bring the Jews back to prominence on the Earth. So when Jesus came on the scene this is why people had a hard time understanding him. If he was the MEssiah then why was He a peasent? If He was thier King then why was HE riding in to town on a donkey on that first Palm Sunday?

I mean when you think of it this whole message of the gospel is foolish isnt it?

The creator of the universe being born a baby to a young unwed mother?

in the smallest, poorest town in the region?

The son of a common laborer, a carpenter?

The Son of God having his diaper changed, learning how to walk?

This to the unsaved person seems extremely foolish and it did to the people of this day as well.

Luke 24:13–31 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

Luke 24:13–14 NKJV

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

Luke 24:13

Luke 24:13-

We dont know who these two men were but they were obviously a couple f men who followed Jesus, but here they are pictured walking down this road to Emmaus, and they are talking about what happened.

What had happened was their king had just been crucified on a bloody tree and they were heartbroken, all of thier hopes rested on this guy Jesus being the one to rescue them they thought they were going to be a part of something amazing. But here they are walking and talking about the crucifixion. But as they were talking they had an unexpected guest.

Luke 24:15–17 NKJV

So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

Luke 24:

Picture this now the resurrected Lord that they watched stands before them and they are so blinded in thier disbelief of the things which took place that they cannot even recognize that its him, they stood looking at him sad and they responded

Luke 24:18–21 NKJV

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

Luke 24:18

WE HAD HOPED HE WOULD REDEEM ISRAEL

BUT THATS ALL OVER NOW IT IS THE THIRD DAY SINCE HE DIED

SO now let’s ask these men a question shall we?

Did this prophet tell you all anything about him dying?

YES HE DID

Matthew 16:21 NKJV

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

So these followers are sad… why?

DISBELIEF YOU KNOW IT HAS TO BE DISBELIEF BECAUSE OF THEIR NEXT WORDS

Luke 24:22–24 NKJV

Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Luke 24:22-

SO.....

He told you he was going to die, in the exact way he did die, while He was still living months before it happened?

Yes

HE told you that he would rise from death on the third day?

YES

Now this morning some women found the tomb empty?

YEs

Others saw this too?

Yes

THEN WHAT ARE YOU SAD ABOUT???

Listen they were sad because they could not wrap thier minds around the fact that Jesus could rise from death, i mean no one has ever done that!

He was supposed to be thier savior and now He is dead....

WHAT IS GOD GONNA DO WITH A DEAD SAVIOR???

Jesus replies:

Luke 24:25–31 NKJV

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Luke 24:25-

How many times do we miss the miracles God wants us to see because were looking for God to move in ways we understand?

GODS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS, HIS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS!

We find freedom in surrendering, we receive by giving, we win by losing, and we LIVE BY DYING

The whole concept of Christianity is backwards from the world.....

This is wy lost people dont understand...

You give up wedneday night?

What can God do with a dead savior?

WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?

You dont sleep in on Sunday?

You walked away from your job for what?

You put added stress on yourself for what?

No matter how you explain it lost people will never understand....

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

For 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.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing

A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament Destroy

ἀπόλλυμι, to destroy utterly (stronger form of ὄλλυμι, to destroy.) Homer uses it chiefly of death in battle, to kill; to lose utterly (the subject being the sufferer.) The fundamental thought is not annihilation, but ruin, loss, (as sheep, Matt. 10:6; 15:24, etc.; Luke 15:4, 6, lost to the fold and to the shepherd; so the lost son, Luke 15:24,) to perish, come to an end (as bread, John 6:27; gold, 1 Pet. 1:7.)

This is the fundamental idea wants His people to get:

YOUR LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED FOR ME, AND THOSE WHO ARE LOST.... ARE ALREADY PERISHING!

They will suffer loss.

Their lives are literally in ruins and they refuse to acknowledge that there is a God to help them, this is why David says in the psalm that only the fool says in his heart there is no God...

So death on a cross to an unbeliever is foolishness......

But to a believer it means something else...

BUT TO US THAT ARE BEING SAVED!!!!!!

YOU WERE SAVED, YOU ARE SAVED, AND YOU ARE BEING SAVED..... CONTINUALLY!

A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament Heal

θεραπεύω, to serve as a θεράπων, (an attendant, higher than δοῦλος, as implying free and honourable service;) to be an attendant, to do service; then, to take care of, esp. one’s person, to dress, wash, etc., then, esp. to take care of the sick, tend them and treat them medically.

2. ἰάομαι, to heal, to cure; prop. of surgeons; to cause to live, revive, or recover from illness.

3. σώζω, to save, to rescue, to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction.

4. διασώζω, to bring safely through danger or sickness

Jesus had to die because your sin is worthy of your very should perishing

Jesus had to die because the penalty of sin is death and God must maintain His justice

Jesus had to die because you are sick, desperately sick with a disease that wont leave you until the Master comes back to receive you unto Himself!

(John Q)

THE FATHER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE AND LAID IT DOWN ON A BLOODY HUMILIATING CROSS TO SAVE US FROM OUR SIN!!!!

WHAT CAN GOD DO WITH A CROSS HE CAN CLEANSE YOU, HE CAN DELIVER YOUR SOUL, AND DAILY HE IS CLEANSING YA!!

Isaiah

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

THIS IS THE POWER OF GOD!!!

God used a poor man, from a poor town, from a shunned woman, riding a donkey, without a place to lay his head, who hung out with stinky fishermen, who hung out at the drunks house, who spent time with prostitutes .......

HE DID THIS BECAUSE THE ONLY ONES WHO WOULD BELIEVE HE WAS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD WERE THOSE WHO HAD HAD THE SCALES REMOVED FROM THIER EYES AND A SOFT HEART LONGING FOR GOD WOULD BELIEVE IT!

1 Corinthians 1:19–20 NKJV

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 1:19-

1 Corinthians 1:21–25 ESV

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:21-