The Word of the Cross – February 17, 2021, Ash Wednesday
I Corinthians 1:17-30
Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021
One of my favorite chapters in all of the Bible is this first chapter of Corinthians. I think it contains some of Paul’s greatest writings. I put this on a par with John’s greatest writings, which many would agree came in chapter 1 – the prologue to his Gospel. I think this is where Paul excelled!
As he writes this, Paul had gotten word that there were divisions – factions – within this church in Corinth. People were at odds with each other for various reasons. And Paul responded to that with some of his most eloquent words. Even though he said in our passage that he came to preach the Gospel, and not with eloquent words, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. In other words, “the word of the cross” was the important thing, not him!
The division in that church really bothered Paul! Because he saw Christian Unity as one of the most important things! And you see that in a lot of his writings! He saw no room in the church for that kind of division. He believed that the Church was a body unique to all others, called by a Savior to a higher love, and a greater unity in the spirit than had ever been seen before. Paul would tell us that one way to know if the church is being the church, as intended by Jesus, is to see if it is living differently than anyone else. If what we do and how we do it is no different than what others do in the world around us, then we should question whether we are being the people God wants us to be. And Lent is a good time to do that.
So in response Paul chose to tell the Corinthians about “The word of the cross.” Which is the title I’m using for this sermon. Paul saw the word of the cross as central to the Church, and to the unity of the spirit! Because he saw all people, no matter how humble or lowly, as being the strength of the church.
So, the word of the cross. The first sentence here is the key. He said he did not come to preach with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Then this. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to those who believe it is the power of God!” (I Corinthians 1:18) The word of the cross makes no sense to the world. That’s what he was saying. Why would Jesus do what he did? The world couldn’t understand.
The first thought I had about Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent, was Luke 9:51. That’s the place where Luke tells us that, “He (Jesus) set his face to go to Jerusalem.” In other words, there came a time, when Jesus made a conscious decision that it was time to take that road that it was his intention to take all along.
A number of years ago – on Ash Wednesday – I said that it was always Jesus’ intention to take that road – the road to the cross. It was his destiny. It was the reason he came. That passage about “setting his face toward Jerusalem” came right after the Transfiguration in Luke’s Gospel. And, if you remember from that story, Jesus went to the mountaintop, and there appeared with him Moses and Elijah. And he was having a conversation with them. And what were they talking about? Luke tells us. They were talking about “his departure in Jerusalem.” They were talking about what Jesus was about to do. They were talking about the cross!
Yet, there are some who believe that the cross was unintentional. They would say that Jesus didn’t mean for that to happen. They would say his crucifixion happened simply because of the nature his ministry. They would say it happened as a matter of course, because of the way his teachings clashed with the social, religious, and political norms of the time, and how that put him at odds with powerful people. And I suppose there is something to that. The nature of Jesus’ ministry and message was such that it would likely have had that result. But I would take exception to the idea that the road to the cross happened simply as a result of that clash.
Calvary was not simply Jesus’ destiny because of what he was saying and doing. The cross happened because it was his intention. It was his mission! And I hope we see that. Jesus’ purpose here on earth was not just to teach us. It was not just to change us – though it was those things. His purpose was to redeem us! It was to show us, and to provide us with, God’s grace. And because that was his intention, his purpose then was not merely to show us how to live eternally with God – someday, it was to show us how to live this life on earth with each other, in the here and now! And that means living a different life, because of who Jesus was and what he did!
“The word of the cross is folly, he said.” It doesn’t make sense to the world. “The Jews demand signs and the Greeks (the Gentiles) seek wisdom,” he said, “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (By saying “the Jews” he was talking about the religious leadership, and by saying “the Greeks – the Gentiles” he was talking about the great philosophical debaters in the world, and their point of view.) The word of the cross is folly to them. “But,” as he concludes, and I love this, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men!”
Do you remember the old comic strip, called “Frank and Earnest?” I love that comic, and I remember one where Earnest was talking with God. And he asked, “God, is it true that a thousand years is like a second to you?” And God said, “Yes.” And Earnest asked, “God, is it true that a million dollars is like a penny to you?” And God said, “Yes.” Then Earnest asked, “God, can I have a penny?” And God said, “Just a second.”
I love that, not just because it’s funny, but because it tells us, in a simple way, that that’s where we stand in comparison to an infinite God. But Paul says, that’s just part of God’s plan! We are part of that “weakness of God that is stronger than men!”
He then brings them, and us, into this. And I think this is one of the greatest sentences Paul ever wrote! “For consider your call, brethren. Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many of you were powerful, not many of you were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are!” I love that!! “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are!”
We are part of God’s plan. We are part of “the word of the cross.” Later, in Second Corinthians, Paul writes, “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart… For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as servants, for Jesus’ sake. For it is God who has… shone into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” And then these familiar words, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” (II Cor. 4:1-7)
That’s where we stand in relationship to God. We are the earthen vessels, we are the weakness of God that is stronger than men. And we are part of his plan, not just members of his kingdom. And we are “servants for Christ’s sake.” And that’s all the more reason to live life differently. That’s all the more reason to know, as he concluded, that “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We are always carrying in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifest within us.”
Lent is a time of reflection. It’s a time when we step aside from our normal routine and think about things we may not have thought about otherwise. It’s a time when we might even give some things up, things that we take for granted. Does that sound familiar? I was thinking that Lent sounds a little bit like the Covid experience.
But it is a time of reflection. And of the things we reflect on during this season, one of the most important is how we stand in comparison to, and in relationship with, God. And we can know, as Paul tells us, that “He is the source of our life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and redemption.” And I hope we will consider “the word of the cross,” how it’s folly to the world, but to we who believe, it is indeed the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Prayer
Eternal God we are amazed by your Grace, and humbled by your love for us. Help us this Lenten season to see ourselves as you see us. Help us to grow closer to you and to each other. Help us to live our lives in the unity of the spirit, supporting, upholding, and upbuilding each other as we seek to be your body here on earth. For we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.