The Word of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1: 18-31

            In the twenty first century, nations are still striving to govern themselves under a variety of forms. In the Middle East, many nations are still governed as religious states. In Africa, new labels have hardly replaced old tribal dominance. Communism and Socialism still survive in various forms. Democracy, the form that George Washington called an “experiment,” still thrives in the United States and is practiced in some form number of other countries. After all these centuries, we have yet to settle as a planet on the best form of government. There’s a good reason for that. Governments in whatever form are still run by people, and people can get selfish, greedy and prideful.

The situation was not much different in Paul’s day. In first century Corinth, the subculture of Judaism competed for space with the dominant Greek culture brought by Roman occupation and rule. Corinth was a place where many cultures and religions co-mingled. In Paul’s day, it was a wide open town where anything could happen and generally did. The worship of pagan religion stood side by side with Judaism and this new cult called Christians. The new church plant was struggling. It had many questions for Paul and wrote to him about a number of issues from marriage and divorce to bodily resurrection. They were struggling to find their identity amid much competition for their attention. Paul, probably in Ephesus at the time, wrote them back and let them know that they were out of step with the gospel and had their priorities and loyalties out of order. 1 Corinthians is a love letter, but it is a “tough love” letter.

Paul talks about the “word of the cross.” What a strange phrase! “Word” in John’s gospel is God come to earth in human form. We think of the “Word of God” as the Bible, the written word of God, the collection of all the Holy Scriptures.  We think of Jesus as the “Living Word” of God, the conqueror of death. He lives today and speaks to us through the promised Holy Spirit.  

The word of the cross. What is it?  I think Paul is saying something different from John’s gospel. He takes us to another level of understanding. It does speak to us, but what does Paul mean? Well, in true Presbyterian fashion, I’m going to suggest three things that it means.  First, it is the zenith of God’s self-disclosure.  God reveals himself through nature. God reveals himself through the prophets. God reveals himself through his Son Jesus. But most of all, God reveals himself through the love act that takes place on the cross. Want to really know God? Meet him at the cross!

Secondly, that “word” represented by the cross requires an act of faith. Paul points to the Jews, who demand signs, as if the mighty acts of Jesus were anything less. He then mentions the Greeks, who seek wisdom, as if the teaching of Jesus imparted something less. His answer is our answer. Paul says that “we preach Christ crucified,” meaning that the atonement of our Savior for our sins is the defining moment in history. It has only one correct response. That response is neither sign nor wisdom but faith… faith alone in Jesus alone.

Last, the word of the cross is that God’s grace, not money or power or pedigree, informs us of the membership in this royal family. But as much as the lowly and the meek now take their place at God’s table, we who would do so are warned that pride is the enemy of both low and high. We cannot take any pride in the fact that we are called, for it is the grace of God that calls us. It is the power of God that saves us.

How can we find this power, this grace, this wisdom? Paul’s answer is painfully simple. We can find it at the cross. When Paul says this, when Paul talks about the word of the cross, he is talking about Jesus. The revelation of God, the complete disclosure that leaves nothing back, is Jesus. The act of faith that brings us to the foot of the cross is the act of believing in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The wisdom we must obtain is that the source of it all is God’s love and God’s amazing grace. We can never boast or take credit for that.

“We preach Christ crucified,” said Paul. What he meant to the Corinthians still holds true today. God has revealed himself in his Son. Christ is our wisdom. Christ is our righteousness. Christ is our redemption. He is the power of God and the wisdom of God incarnate for all to see, but our vision will not come through anything short of grace itself. This is real wisdom, when we meet Jesus at the cross, when we recognize the overwhelming love contained in that act of sacrifice.

The wisdom of this world cannot save us. Only our obedience to the Word…the word of the cross…to the gospel of Jesus Christ, can save us. When we understand this word, the word of the cross, then we, too, can preach Christ crucified…and risen!

Let us pray

2/2/14