1 Corinthians 1 22-25
Lent 3
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
March 23, 2003
“The Cross and the Wisdom of God”
Introduction: A young man went for a walk to meditate. He soon found himself in a field of ripe pumpkins. Also in the field happened to be a great acorn tree. The young man observed the tiny acorns hanging down from gigantic branches of the tree. Then he glanced at the enormous pumpkins on the tiny vines. He meditated for a while, and then said to himself, "God made a mistake. He should have put the tiny acorns on tiny vines and the great pumpkins on the great branches." Pondering God's apparent mistake the young man took a nap and fell fast asleep under the tree. A short time later he was awakened as a tiny acorn struck his nose. He rubbed his bruised nose and wondered, "Maybe God was right after all."
How often we think we know what is right. But in the end we have found ourselves to be wrong. We assume we are doing the wise thing, but soon discover that what we have done is foolish. We even dare to challenge the way the Almighty apparently has arranged the universe. What appears to be foolishness may indeed be in the final analysis wisdom.
When Paul first preached the gospel in Corinth he encountered a similar reaction. His message was greeted with ridicule and contempt. What was particularly objectionable was his reference to the cross. Nonetheless, Paul continued explaining: "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.
A suffering Messiah dying impotently and shamefully on a cross was an offense to the Jews. The Greeks regarded it absurd to proclaim as Savior, one who had been put to death as a criminal. But those Jews and Greeks that made up the Corinthian Church, called by God to faith by the preaching of Christ crucified, experienced Christ as both the power and wisdom of God. The cross demonstrates divine power and wisdom. In Christ’s death, which some people see as utter weakness, God was working with His almighty power. In the death of Christ, which people saw as utterly foolish way for a Savior to carry out His task, God was revealing His highest wisdom.
Paul’s preaching did not center on Christ, the great teacher, perfect man, inspiring example or noble martyr. Paul’s preaching centered on Christ crucified. This should be the focus of all Christian preaching. The most important heritage we Lutherans have is our focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Why do we focus on Jesus Christ and His crucifixion? In preaching the cross the wisdom and power of God are revealed.
1) Such preaching reveals the Wisdom of God.
A. To non-Christians the preaching of a crucified Christ is anything but wisdom.
1. Paul's own kindred, the Jews, interpreted the cross as foolishness and a stumbling block. Although many of the Jews longed for the Messiah to come their picture of who he was, was not that of Paul's. A common Jewish image of the Messiah was a new King David, a mighty warrior who would deliver the covenant people from their oppressors. Surely, the wonder-working Messiah would not be a man who was sentenced to die upon the cross, the dread symbol of a convicted criminal. The Jews were offended by Jesus death because they expected a warrior Messiah, who would flash signs from the skies as proof of his conquering power. Remember Peter statement in last weeks gospel lesson where Peter denied the Christ should be crucified. Even he could not comprehend the concept of a suffering and dying God. Death after all exhibits the ultimate weakness. Paul said that Christ crucified was a stumbling block for the Jews. More literally, the word for stumbling block can be interpreted as a snare or trap like the kind an animal bumps into causing the trap to spring. So the Jews, by refusing to believe in Jesus as their Savior ensnared themselves in a trap leading to eternal death.
2. Likewise, the Greeks thought the cross was foolishness. The ancient Greeks were famous for their love of wisdom. They were impressed by human philosophy and systems of thought based on logic. But the wisdom they were looking for did not begin with “the fear of the Lord” which, the scriptures remind us, is the beginning of all wisdom. These wise men, skilled in debate and endless discussion about philosophy, and the nature of the gods, were sure of one thing and that was that the gods would never defile themselves by becoming human. It was simply inconceivable to them that Jesus could be considered divine and yet allows mere human beings to torture him and put him to death upon a cross. Whoever he was, in their estimation, he was not the Son of God. The Greeks thought that it was absurd and foolish to call a man Savior and Lord who was branded as a common criminal by crucifixion.
3. Do we sometimes stumble over Jesus and God’s presumed weakness, like the Jews. Do we, like the Greeks, think Jesus and His cross are foolish? I think there are times when we all stumble over the apparent weakness of our God. We may think that a powerful God would not let us experience the difficulties of life that we experience. Why does He seem to be so silent when we are desperate to hear His voice? What good are our prayers when they are not answered the way we want them to be answered? Yet our God has promised that His strength is revealed in our weakness. He will not always remain silent. His power to change and save lives is manifested in our testing. As we bear our crosses we are witness’ of God’s power to help us and sustain us no matter what happens. What about foolishness? Are we ever ashamed of Jesus Christ and His cross? Let me ask you two questions. Do you think you could go to your next door neighbor and ask if they have fire insurance? No problem you say? Now, how would you feel about going to your next door neighbor and asking them if they believe in Jesus as their Savior? You may be thinking, “pastor you have got to be kidding, my neighbor will think that I have lost my mind and think of me as a fool. Do we stumble? You bet. Are we ashamed? We are.
B. Yet the preaching of a crucified Christ displays a wisdom far higher than any human wisdom. At the cross God dealt with human sin. As sinners, we deserved to die a criminal’s death because we were born and have lived in sin all the days of our lives. Though we dress up in our Sunday best, acting accordingly, we have the hearts of hardened criminals, black to the core. Jesus, in our place, bore the punishment that we deserved. He satisfied the judgment and wrath of God which our sin had aroused. At the cross, God achieved salvation for the whole world and this salvation has now been given to us by faith in the one who was crucified.
2) Such preaching reveals the Power of God.
A. The preaching of Christ crucified shows the power of God. And it has the power to work faith in the hearts of people. Paul wrote, “to those who are called [that is called to believe in what the world considers foolishness – a crucified God], to those who are called, for both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. Despite the opposition of both Jews and Greeks, a strange thing happened wherever Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although the cross was a stumbling block and foolishness to many people, there were always some people, both Jews and Greeks, who believed. Preaching Christ crucified produces faith. "Faith is not produced by threats, arguments or human striving. Only the Holy Spirit of God, working through the message of the crucified Christ do people believe. That is how we have come to believe also. That is why this message of Jesus is so important to us. Such faith leads us to know that there is “now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
B. As our faith is nurtured by the preaching of Christ, we are able to live as people who are no longer under sins control. Since we died and rose with Christ, we can crucify our flesh and our sinful nature each day and rise in newness of life and living. We do this by daily confessing our own stumbling and shame towards Christ and what He has done for us on the cross. Since Christ has reconciled us to God, we can be reconcilers as we point to Jesus, His death and glorious resurrection accomplished for the people of the world , and received by us through faith.
Conclusion: Christ’s crucifixion seemed to demonstrate utter weakness and foolishness. There is nothing more powerless than a corpse on a cross. But Jesus Christ’s death was God’s weakness and God’s foolishness. “The weakness of God is stronger than men.” The message of our crucified Savior has power to free us from sin’s condemnation and control. Paul’s preaching is a model for us. We don’t work miracles to satisfy those who seek some sign, we don’t propound philosophy to entertain intellectuals, and we don’t dispute or argue. We preach the Word of God and we preach Christ crucified. It may be foolishness to the world but through it God demonstrates His saving wisdom and works His mighty power to save. Amen
