“Jews demand 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. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25)
The way it was back in Bible times is still the way it is today. “… the logic of the Gospel defies human wisdom and conventional expectations.” * The Jews are to this very day still looking for a Messiah King who will rid them of injustice, intolerance and suffering once and for all. The thought that their Messiah would come in the form of a baby born in a manger and grow up among the commoners of their land was far more than they could accept. His claim to be God’s Son pushed them over the edge, so they had Him killed. Gentiles** were and still are looking for a logical explanation for all this God talk. They cannot agree to what they cannot experience with their senses. Remember, the Gentiles Paul is speaking to in Corinth never saw Jesus, so while faith associated with sight was needed during Christ’s ministry years, raw faith without actually having seen Him is now required. The Weymouth New Testament translation of Romans 5:7 sums up the illogical nature of Christ’s death: “Why, it is scarcely conceivable that anyone would die for a simply just man, although for a good and lovable man perhaps someone, here and there, will have the courage even to lay down his life.” It’s true. Christ dying on a criminals cross makes absolutely no sense to the finite mortal mind. That is the beauty of the message; that is the beauty of grace. All of God’s power and wisdom were found in the person of Jesus Christ. There is nothing about it that makes any logical sense at all. It is nothing more than God’s divine favor administered to man. The truth of the gospel is there for anyone to see, hear and respond to. Questions by the millions are asked by people who have yet to believe. Answers are not forthcoming. Answers to questions that require faith to accept and believe will never come. It would negate the need for faith.
While Christianity may seem like utter foolishness and its followers like weak minded fools, one day every eye shall see Christ as He returns in all His glory. Then it won’t seem so foolish; then it will be too late. Embrace the risen Savior while He may be found and live debt free.
WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!
* Asbury Bible Commentary
** Anyone who is not a Jew.
NOTE: “The evidence of Acts 18:1-8 and 1 Corinthians suggests that the church was in many ways a mirror of the city . The majority of its members were Gentiles, former idolaters, largely of lower socioeconomic status. The heterogeneous mix of Jew, Greek, slave, free, rich, and poor inevitably led to tensions and internal rivalries.” [Asbury Bible Commen
