The Message of the Cross

I Corinthians 1:18 - 31

How does the world look at Christians who believe the Bible is the Word of God?  The “Message of the Cross” - the fact that God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, the 2nd person of the Trinity, to die for our sins, is not a popular message with the world, especially today.  They look at that as foolishness.

The Apostle Paul went throughout the Mediterranean preaching the Gospel.  Often he met opposition, both from the Jews and from Gentiles who rejected the saving Message of the Cross.

The Jews rejected the message of Jesus and His saving death on that cross.  Verse 23 says that this message was a stumbling block to them.  The Jews were waiting for their Messiah, but they were looking for a conquering king.  The Jews had been under the rule of other nations for over 500 years.  At the time of Jesus they were looking for someone to free them from Roman rule.  They wanted a strong, powerful, victorious hero.  Jesus was meek and peaceful.  He preached loving your enemy and forgiveness to others, not the type of thing they wanted to hear.  He did not assiduously follow their traditions.  He then died on the cross, in their mind as a blasphemer.  The Jews could not, and would not, accept Him as their Savior, especially not after He died on the cross.  That was a stumbling block for them.

The Greeks, on the other hand, looked on the Message of the Cross as foolishness.  How could a “savior” died on a cross, which was a humiliating execution method for criminals, not for a God.  A God who would die for people was foolishness for them.

We see both of these reactions today.  The Jewish people continue to reject the Messiah.  The cross and salvation through His death is still a stumbling block to them.  Today so many look at the Bible and the Message of the Cross as foolishness.  They call it foolish because many do not believe any salvation is even necessary.  “What are we being saved from?  God loves everybody, and no one is going to hell.  There isn’t even a hell, anyway.  If you believe the Bible you are a fool!”

What the world has called foolishness, and laughs and scoffs at, is exactly how God chose to save mankind.   We have two choices to make:  We can go along with the world, accept their “wisdom”, being afraid to be called a “fool” by them.  Or we can be called a “fool” and accept God’s wisdom and salvation by faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.  Choose either the world’s “wisdom”, which in reality is foolishness, or God’s “foolishness”, which in reality is wisdom.  Make your choice wisely!