The Message of the Cross

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. —1 Corinthians 1: 18

To the Jew, the notion of their Messiah being arrested, beaten, and crucified on a cross was utterly unthinkable. They expected their Messiah, the descendant of David, to rule over the world in righteousness and peace.

To the Greek, the idea that one man could die for the sins of all men was pure foolishness. None of the many gods the Greeks worshiped would ever have done something that loving. Their gods were selfish. So the idea of a God who was willing to give Himself to save His people was ridiculous. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” (1 Corinthians 2: 14).

Though the world considers the cross to be foolishness, we who are saved see it as the beautiful instrument of our salvation. We are not ashamed of the cross.

** It is the power of God unto salvation.

Through the cross, God set us free from the bondage of sin. Through the cross, He conquered death and the grave. Through the cross, He adopted us as His own. Through the cross, He made an end of the war that existed between us. Through the cross, He secured our eternal future. Let the world think what it wants. We know the truth. And oh, how we love that old rugged cross.

Lord, we thank You that You have set us free—free to love You, free to serve You, free to walk in fellowship with You. Let the message of the cross speak to our hearts today. In Jesus’ name, amen.