The Wisdom of God
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.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
The way in which Jesus came to this earth in man’s terms at least seems odd.
Jesus was not born in a King’s palace where he could have exercised great influence. Instead he was born to simple parents who were devout believers.
Being devout believers his parents would have taught him the tenants of their and his faith.
Also as I see it, growing up as an average person Jesus experienced everything it was to be a man.
Wealthy people as good as most may be, quite often don’t understand what it is to be poor and live from hand to mouth.
Jesus as he was growing up must have seen the poor around him. He certainly understood what it was like for the average person on the street. He understood the temptations of the average person. He would also have seen any oppression.
It would have been counter productive for him to grow up in a wealthy family with all of the worldly comforts, if he was to judge the world.
No one standing before Jesus can ever say, “You don’t understand what it is to be in my position, to be poor or average.” because he does. He lived as an ordinary person as most of the population lived.
He can also look at the rich and powerful on that day of judgement and say “you could have done more. You had to power to change the lives of the poor and needy.”
Paul also says,
“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
There are a lot of sceptics in the world with regard to Christ and God. There are a lot of unbelievers who simply can’t or won’t take an open and honest look at the Bible. Who wont read even just the New Testament.
Some people will admit Jesus is a good man. But they can’t make that leap of faith and say he is the Son of God.
Many people of faith, don’t believe God would allow Jesus to go to the cross.
The crucifixion for me, shows in human terms just how far God would go to reconcile man to himself.
He is saying I love you so much I would die for you.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8.
It takes a leap of faith to believe in Jesus but Christ is waiting for all who would believe with outstretched hands. All we have to say is I believe.
Think about it.
