We Preach Christ Crucified

Daily Reading:  1 Corinthians 1

 We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1.23-24)

Devotional Thought: As Jesus neared the end of his life, he startled the people of Jerusalem: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12.32).  The crowd understood Jesus' thinly veiled reference to his crucifixion and tried to argue with him: "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?" (John 12.34).  The idea of a crucified Messiah was anathema to the people of Jesus' day.  Yet Jesus insisted upon it - both to his closest followers and his fiercest critics.  Ultimately, Jesus followed this clarion call all the way to the cross.

The Apostle Paul picked up that theme when he told the Corinthians, "We preach Christ crucified."  It would be easy to preach a never-dying Savior.  It would come natural to follow a conquering king.  It would make sense to portray the Son of God as stronger than any force arrayed against him.  But, Paul preached a crucified Christ.

A crucified Christ is a stumbling block and a scandal.  A stumbling block because people don't think they even need a Savior.  A scandal because our sins are so heinous that they required the death of an innocent man.  Who would want to get blamed for that?

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God!  I have been following this crucified Christ for nearly 50 years, and have preached him for more than 30 years.  I have found nothing better to preach than Christ!  And today I still want to lift him up.

Do you trust in him today?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so also you were lifted up on the cross to bear the penalty for my sins.  By your stripes I am healed.  I receive your forgiveness and your life today.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 108:7-13

7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.

9 Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

12 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.

13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.