Day 15: The power of the cross - 1 Corinthians 1 vs 17-25

17 Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power! 18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

While some people reject Christianity because they are afraid it will destroy their fun in life, today’s reading shows there are those who don’t become Christians because they are worried that people will call them nonintellectual and stupid. What did many Jewish people in Paul’s day want to see before they would believe the message about Jesus? (vs 22) And, still in vs 22, what did many of the gentile people want before they would believe the message?

So, while some people wanted miracles and others wanted clever intellectual arguments, Paul stuck to the message about a man who died upon a cross for sinners. John’s gospel tells us that: “The Son of Man had to be lifted up (on a cross) so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” And then adds: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” It’s not miracles or clever speeches that take away our sins - but God has promised to forgive the sins of anyone who believes on Jesus and calls on Him to save them.

What do so many people think of this message? (vs 18 & 23). But where are those people headed for with their way of living? (vs 18). What word does Paul use in vs 17, 18 & 24 to describe the impact God’s message has on those who believe it?

There will always be people who think they are more clever than God. But what does vs 21 say about them? Sadly, they never find God or the peace He gives to those who believe. Don’t be discouraged if you get mocked by those who think you are silly and unsophisticated for trusting Jesus Christ to be your Saviour and Lord - God’s power is far greater than all the philosophies of this world.