The Foolishness of the Cross

March 21, 2008

Lar,

Thanks so much for that post yesterday. I was encouraged. And I am sure that I was not the only one. For I need continual reminders that God is God. That He knows everything. And that I am a mere finite creature.

As we reflect upon the death of Jesus Christ today, I just want to marvel for a moment at the wisdom of God. For lately I have been thinking about the framework of creation, fall, and redemption. And one thought that continually comes to mind is, “What is the world is going on?”

This question hits me when I reflect upon my own life and upon all of human history. What is going on? Sure, I love my Bible; and I believe every word of it. I know it tells the unique story of redemption. Yet at the same time, don’t you ever read it and marvel at what a mess it appears to be? The nation of Israel. The book of Judges. David and Solomon and their numerous wives. Babylonian captivity. The prophets. And then, above all, the brutal slaying of the Son of God upon a cross.

Some may think I am bordering on unbelief at this point, but from my vantage point, a meditation on what seems like foolishness to us ends up to be an encouragement to me. Why you ask? Well, because I know it isn’t foolishness, but the perfect indication of divine wisdom. Though it all might look like a mess to me, God’s in that mess. Indeed, Jesus came down into the midst of the mess and suffered and died because of the mess. Even more, to make sure that things will not forever be a mess.

On one hand, things are a mess. But on the other hand, they aren’t. Things are not as they are supposed to be. That is true enough. But in the midst of it all, God is doing what God aims to do. He is revealing His perfect wisdom and authority and beauty and power. He is building His kingdom. He has reversed, is reversing, and will reverse forever the effects of the fall. Even through the likes of fools like us.

We celebrate Jesus’ death today brother. And many think such a death is foolishness. And yet, it is the power and wisdom of God. God is not the fool. We are the fools. And our greatest joy is to acknowledge our foolishness and incredible limitations and to marvel at His infinite wisdom. Our highest pleasure is found in being humbled by God’s wisdom and boasting only in Him.

What follows is 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. It’s a lengthy passage, but I commend it to you for your meditation. Let it make it you marvel at the greatness and glory of our God as revealed in Jesus!

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where ist he scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 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.

For consider your calling, brother: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. HE is the source of your life in Christ JEsus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”

Boasting in the Lord,
Joe

Posted by Joe | Filed Under Random Musings, Scripture Meditation, Seeking Him 

Comments

2 Responses to “The Foolishness of the Cross”

  1. Sherry Bell on March 22nd, 2008 1:18 pm

    Joe,
    Keep boasting for the Lord. We, as lovers of Christ, must, in every way possible, bring the true light of God’s love to this hurting world.

    As a mother and grandmother, I often begin to worry about the world my grandchildren have inherited, but I have to keep knowing that God is in the middle of this entire mess we call living. I am a Christian, and I become anxious, so what about those who do not know that God is in the midst of it all?

    I will pray and thank God that I found this site, and I will recommend it to my friends. Thank you for being bold for Christ.

    Sherry

  2. Joe on March 23rd, 2008 2:08 pm

    Sherry,
    Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I offer a hearty ‘Amen’ to your words of truth as well.

    I too often wonder about the world my children and grandchildren will live in. But it is then that I must recall that Jesus entered the mess and suffered the wrath of Almighty God so that it might be a mess no longer! We don’t know how long it will take, but one day the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!

    What a hope! Thanks again for your encouragement.

    Joe

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