Thoughts for another day

Dec. 10, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 1:23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

A long time ago, a non Christian friend and I discussed religion and he told me the wonderful things about his gods; there were many, since he was a hindu and his gods had various incarnations, avatars, etc.  Then I told him about our Trinitarian God…one God in three forms, the Holy Trinity.  As I spoke, he focused on Jesus Christ and Him hanging on the Cross as seen on the crucifix.  He said, ‘I can’t understand what kind of God you’re following, a helpless God who needs help Himself; what can He help you?  You display such foolishness, on the other hand, see our gods, they’re incarnated in might and splendor and they show themselves powerful; such is the god we should believe in, who can destroy evil and give us salvation!’ 

I believe this sums up the situation every Christian who joins in a discussion about Christ will have to answer at some point in time.  When Paul preached to the Corinthians, he realised that Christ crucified is really a stumbling block to the Jews who couldn’t accept that the Anointed Messiah, would be such a ‘weak’ King!  Therefore, at the time of Jesus, many moved away from Him as He didn’t typify the earthly king who would do all in his power to usurp, kill and destroy.  And the Greeks only thought it was foolishness, for who can understand such a weak and helpless God?

But we who know, Christ on the Cross is the highest example of God’s love for us and His holiness, displayed in clear terms.  Jesus came to save us from sin and death.  God is a holy God, so His justice must prevail and His justice meant our death.  So Christ took our place and our Father in heaven thumped our sins on Him and He died on our behalf.  In His death, He met with the justice of a holy God and paid fully for our sins.  For those who see Christ as being helpless, I must say, He could have immediately asked and His Father could have given more than twelve legions of angels to protect Him, Matt. 26:53.  But, then how could He save us?  How could His mission be fulfilled.   Now we know this so we explain to others and then we shall see the Cross, not as an object of shame, but a symbol of power and forgiveness.  And we’ll also remember that in our own lives as we struggle with our crosses, we shall if we surrender them to the Lord, also have our victorious resurrection.