The Folly of the Cross

God’s Power and Wisdom are found in the proclamation of a Crucified Messiah, not in displays of power or political might.

Contrary to many expectations, the Kingdom of God will not be implemented through political, economic, or military power. Nor will it take super revivals characterized by awesome supernatural displays. Statements in the New Testament and the examples of Jesus and his Apostles point elsewhere. Righteousness, holiness, and the Kingdom can only be advanced through the proclamation of the “Word of the Cross.”

Yes, God does work miracles to help His people in times of need. However, miracles are a means to an end. They are neither the end nor the goal. God delights in meeting human needs. “Signs and wonders” often accompany the preaching of the Gospel.

[Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash]

History and Scripture argue against the assumption that demonstrations of supernatural power will cause multitudes to repent or enable the Church to take over the so-called “Seven Mountains of Society.”

In Christ’s ministry, “signs and wonders” did not cause more than a few of his contemporaries to respond positively to his message. He performed healings, exorcised demons, and even raised the dead. The crowds certainly were impressed. They had never seen the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, or Priests do anything like that.

Nonetheless, only the demons cast out by Jesus recognized him as the “Son of God.” Before his crucifixion, and despite his miraculous deeds, even his disciples could not see the forest for the popular messianic trees. For example, after he miraculously calmed a violent storm, the twelve disciples failed to understand who he was. Dumbstruck, they could only ask, “Who is this man?”

On the verge of understanding his identity, Peter declared he was the Messiah, the Son of God. He did so until Jesus explained what it meant to be God’s anointed – betrayal, suffering, and unjust death. Peter then rebuked him with Satan’s own words. The role of the Suffering Servant of the LORD was unacceptable to Peter.

In the Gospel of Mark, the only human who recognized Jesus as God’s “Son” before his resurrection was the Roman centurion in charge of his execution (Truly, this man was the Son of God!”). It seems, that only in his death was God’s Son revealed and recognized, not in his many miraculous deeds - (Mark 15:39).

In the Gospel of John, Jesus declared that when he was “lifted up, then you will know that I am the one.” Not his miracles, but his crucifixion was the center of his redemptive act. Only then would he “draw all men to me.” The “Son of Man” was “glorified” on Calvary, not when he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee or raised Lazarus from the dead.

Despite the powerful miracles done by him, Jesus died alone on the Cross rejected by the Jewish nation, abandoned by his disciples, and crushed by Rome’s might. Jesus instructed his disciples not to take up the sword or Caesar’s scepter. They were to embrace the Cross daily and follow in his footsteps.

When Satan offered him political power, Jesus refused it. His followers are summoned to something quite different than the ways of this world - To a life of self-sacrificial service for his Kingdom and the needs of his people, to the Way of the Cross:

• “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their great ones tyrannize them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your servant, and whosoever would be first among you shall be your slave; even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The exalted position Jesus now holds came only after paying a great price. As Paul explained, he took on the “form of a slave, and he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God highly exalted him.” He did not conquer evil by killing his enemies, but by laying down his life for them.

Suffering, humiliation, and death preceded his exaltation, a pattern for his disciple to emulate but one that is contrary to human wisdom and experience. Being carnal, we seek power, prominence, and success apart from the Cross of Christ.

CHRIST CRUCIFIED

The Book of Revelation is most instructive for would-be disciples. John introduced himself as a “fellow participant” with the “Assemblies of Asia” in the “Tribulation and the Kingdom and the Perseverance of Jesus.” One definite article or “THE” modifies all three nouns. Each is a part of a single whole. To live for the Kingdom is to endure “tribulation” and “persevere” in it.

The “Assemblies of Asia” were summoned to “overcome” by persevering through trials, rejecting deceptions, and undergoing persecution, not by escaping tribulation. We reign with Jesus, but first, we must overcome in the same manner he did - (Revelation 3:21).

His disciples conquer by “following the Lamb wherever he goes.” They “overcome” Satan “by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and because they loved not their lives unto death.” Thus, they overcome in the same manner as Jesus did - (Revelation 12:11).

Paul declared to the Corinthians that the proclamation of “Christ crucified” was scandalous to Jews and folly to Greeks. The very idea that God achieved victory over sin, death, and Satan through the unjust death of a politically powerless Messianic figure was foolishness to the philosophies and ideologies of this fallen age. Yet Paul called the “Cross of Christ” God’s power and wisdom. Only the “spiritually minded” could comprehend this.

When he was criticized by certain “super-apostles” who pointed to their letters of recommendation and the signs that accompanied their preaching, Paul gave a long list of what he had suffered for the Gospel.

His willingness to endure hardship validated his apostleship, not written credentials or supernatural powers. Though he had experienced the “third heaven,” something few others could claim, that vision was of far less value to Paul than what he learned through severe personal trials:

• “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my weaknesses so the power of Christ may rest upon me” – (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This is the problem today. “Christ crucified” is something we do not understand and an example we do not wish to follow. Yet his message is found in his teachings and revealed in his self-denying service for others, especially his death on the Cross.

Just as “all men are drawn” since he was “lifted up” on the Roman cross, the world must be won by men and women whose lives are conformed to his self-sacrificing example. He died for us when “we were yet the enemies of God.” Miraculous signs and wonders may help along the way, but they are not the key to the triumph of his Kingdom.

The preaching of “Christ crucified” is God’s wisdom and power, and the consummation of His Kingdom will occur only after this same Jesus has been proclaimed to all nations, “to the uttermost parts of the Earth.”

Yes, “Christ crucified” makes no sense to this world and, apparently, to many of us, but that is precisely the point.

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• Recognizing Jesus - (In Mark, only at his death did the Roman centurion who was present at his execution recognize who Jesus was – Mark 10:45)

• My Rights or His Cross - (Following Jesus means a life of self-denial and service, and a willingness to suffer persecution and loss for his sake)