The Foolish Cross
Isaiah 49:1-7 • Psalm 71:1-14 • 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 • John 12:20-36
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
I keep thinking about what happened that first Good Friday. We live in a culture of power. Very much like that of ancient Rome. So many Christians believe that power over is what is most necessary today for the Church. Yet, Christ is Christ because he became powerless.
The Christian faith is one of self-sacrifice.
When we fix our eyes on Jesus we see one who chose what appeared to be powerless to display true power.
There is a clamor these days from many Christians for powerful men to come to our rescue. The cry of many is that the Church needs a strong man to defend it from the forces of evil.
We live in a day where the cross is foolishness, even for many Christians.
During this holy week I am trying to remember again that the way of the Cross, the way of self-sacrifice, is the way of love. This way of love demands not power over enemies but it demands love for them and prayer for them.
When we see the clamor and call for the “warrior” Jesus we can be sure that these are calls away from the foolish Cross and necessarily calls away from the Christ that we claim to follow.