1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
In our previous pastoral chat, we had considered how some people mocked at the cross thinking it was foolish. Today, we will continue with the theme, the foolishness of God is wiser than men.
II. Some are stumbled by the cross because of its weakness
1 Corinthians 1:22-23, For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.
The ancient Jewish nation had witnessed many miraculous events; from the exodus out of Egypt to the days of Elijah and Elisha. When Jesus was ministering on earth, the Jewish leaders repeatedly asked Him to perform a sign from heaven, but He refused. The majority of the Jewish people did not understand their own Scriptures (the Old Testament). They were expecting a Messiah who would come like a mighty conqueror and defeat all their enemies, and then set up His kingdom and return the glory to Israel. They could not fully comprehend the first and second coming of the Messiah.
But at the same time, there were some Jews who knew that the Old Testament spoke about the Messiah suffering and dying, for example in passages like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. So, the people were confused with these two seemingly contradictory images of the Messiah. They did not understand that Christ the Messiah had to suffer and die before He could enter into His glory, and that in the future millennial kingdom, He would come as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Even the disciple Peter was stumbled when he first heard Jesus speak about the cross. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee” (Matthew 16:22). His own understanding of the Messiah had no place for the cross.
Since the Jews were looking for power and glory, therefore the preaching of the cross was a stumbling- block to them. How could anyone place his faith in a poor carpenter’s son from Nazareth who died the shameful death of a criminal? Crucifixion was not only a horrible death, it was the most humiliating and shameful. In fact, it was illegal to crucify a Roman citizen. How could their Saviour be so meek and weak?
But the truth was that Jesus Christ was infinitely powerful, yet He chose to be born in a manger and ultimately to die on the cross. He chose to be weak, so we could be strong. He chose to bear our sins on the cross, so we would not perish for all eternity. He came to pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay (c.f. Philippians 2:5-11).
III. Some believed in the power and wisdom of the cross
1 Corinthians 1:24, But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Man was in desperate trouble, because of his sins. He was not only at odds with other people and himself, but ultimately, he was at odds with God, and ultimately, he must face God’s just wrath and condemnation. He could not free himself from the bondage of sin and the guilt that came with it. The gospel was the good news that through Jesus Christ, man could be delivered from the power, guilt and corruption of sin. And he could approach the throne of God from whom he was once separated. It was all because of Christ, the power of God.
The Apostle Paul was saying that Christ was the source of power we need to save ourselves. Christ was the One who accomplished the work of salvation on the cross, and therefore He was the One who was the power of God unto salvation.
The gospel was the power of God, and He was no respecter of persons. If the gospel was of human power, it would be limited by human interests and abilities (e.g. limited only for the intelligent, rich, strong and powerful). Since it was the power of God, the gospel was for everyone (c.f. John 3:16).
The gospel was God’s way of salvation, and not man’s way. The world has many ideas about salvation; to do as much good works as possible, to perform certain rituals or ceremonial rites, etc. They are all foolish and inadequate. What a man needs is a way of salvation that comes not from man but God. In Christianity, it is God reaching out to save perishing men and women, and not sinners desperately trying to reach out to God.
The only way a person can understand and receive the gospel for salvation is when God Himself reveals it to him or her; the gospel is not something we could ever figure out for ourselves. In Matthew 16:15, when Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. In other words, it was not because of Peter’s reasoning, superior intellect, calculation, analysis or intuition; as there was nothing in the human, earthly realm that would reveal Jesus Christ is God. No man calls Jesus Lord but by the spirit of God revealing Him. It is God who reveals His Son to the human understanding. No one can plan such a gospel except the wisdom of God!
Finally, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. From man’s point of view, that which seems most ridiculous and useless, foolish and weak; actually reveals God’s greatest power and greatest wisdom.
Why are we withholding this good news from our loved ones who are still lingering outside the kingdom of heaven and soon they would perish because of their unbelief? Is it because we are afraid of being foolish in the eyes of the people? May the Lord forgive us for our lack of passion in delivering this good news! May the Lord help us to be bold and courageous to declare the pure gospel of Christ which is the power and wisdom of God!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng