1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - Christ Crucified

 

1 Corinthians 1:23-24

 

NKJV

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

 

NLT

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

Christ crucified!  What a horrible death.  The Jews thought the Messiah was going to be this conquering king and they couldn’t accept the form this King came in.  The gentiles couldn’t understand how anything good could come from crucifixion.  In the end, both had the same response.  They couldn’t accept the Christ as they saw Him.

 

It’s pretty simple, now, in my thoughts; but I have the luxury of being able to look back at the crucifying of Christ.  But understanding it was still pretty tough when I was a new baby believer.  How in the world was this a good thing, was my question?  The answer to that is that “in the world”, it wasn’t.   God’s plan for my salvation had everything to do with that perfect sacrifice that was Christ crucified.  Once I understood the love of that sacrifice, then I sorta understood that next verse, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. We are called by God in salvation, which makes us co-heirs with Christ.  We have the power and wisdom to all the things Jesus did “and greater things”.  Are you going to act on that?

 

Christ crucified,

cej