eManna

eManna

The Word of God Delivered Daily via Email

Calendar

September 25, 2022

The Cross of Christ Is Foolishness to those Perishing

1Cor 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews require signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The fact that Christ was crucified implies many things. It implies that He was despised, rejected, and defeated. No one could be crucified without first being rejected and defeated. Through crucifixion Christ suffered man's rejection. He was able to avoid death by crucifixion, but He did not do so. He could be crucified only because He was willing to be killed. In verse 22 Paul refers to two kinds of people--to religious Jews and philosophical Greeks. The religious ones desire signs, miracles, and the philosophical ones pursue wisdom. But in preaching Christ crucified, Paul cared for neither wisdom nor signs. When the Lord Jesus was on the cross, the Jews mocked Him and said, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" (Matt. 27:40). The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save! He is king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe on him" (v. 42). They challenged the Lord to prove that He was the Christ, the Son of God, by delivering Himself from the cross. However, the Lord remained silent; He did not do anything to save Himself. Instead of a miracle and wisdom, there were weakness and foolishness. According to man's wisdom, it would be utterly foolish to be crucified. Many professors and educated people today treat the word of the cross as if it were foolishness. To them, it is folly to speak about a Christ who was despised, rejected, and crucified. They do not want to hear of a Christ who was killed without reacting in His own defense. Thus, the word of the cross is still foolishness to those who are perishing, especially the philosophical people. (c) Living Stream Ministry.

Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of 1 Corinthians, pp. 61, 65, 68. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].

To unsubscribe from the mailing list, either: Send an email to: [email protected] (No subject or message needed; a blank email will work) or visit www.emanna.com and fill out the unsubscribe form there.

Life-study of 1 Corinthians