Christ Crucified: The Wisdom of God
At the heart of the Christian faith lies the infinite wisdom and power of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But how does God dying on the cross over two thousand years ago show His wisdom and strength? Let us search the Scriptures together to find out!
In First Corinthians, we see that preaching Christ crucified is the very manifestation of God's wisdom and power, challenging human perception and self-righteousness.
“[22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: [23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. [25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. [26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; [28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:22-31
In this passage, Paul portrays a vivid contrast between Jewish and Greek expectations and the message of Christ.
Historically, the Jews sought divine signs as validations of prophetic authenticity. This can be observed in their interactions with Jesus (Mat 12:38-40, 16:4) and the lamentation of the absence of signs in Psalms 74:9.
The Greeks on the other hand were deeply entrenched in worldly philosophies, ever eager for new knowledge and ideas. This led them to idolatry, as showcased in Acts 17:16-32, where they mocked and disregarded the resurrection yet built an altar to an unknown God.
These two patterns are reflected today and epitomize Romans 1:21-25:
“[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” – Romans 1:21-25
The Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah as they sought to boast in their religious works and deny His resurrection (Rom 9:32-33, 11:9-28). For the intellectually-driven Greeks, the concept of resurrection and salvation through a crucified savior was absurd (Act 19:17).
Amidst the quest for physical signs and wonders and worldly wisdom, stands the message of the cross: salvation by grace through faith without works in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 3:19-28, Col 2:8-22, 2Co 5:21). Through the gospel, God dismantles the wisdom of the world that states you can be good on your own or that you are enough.
The cross discredits human pride and self-sufficiency. The wise, mighty, and noble of this world are reluctant to trust in Christ because their pride and confidence in human achievements often hinder them from acknowledging their need for God (Rom 3:10-20, Luk 18:18-25). The gospel's simplicity and its call to faith in Christ's righteousness seem impractical to a world reliant on self-justification (1Co 1:21).
God's grand narrative utilized the concept of death, man's greatest weakness, to ultimately overcome it through His resurrection. Remarkably, God employed an event perceived as a criminal's execution to debunk worldly wisdom, underscoring the folly of man's wisdom before a just and omniscient God (1Co 2:6, Psa 33:6-11). The cross, an emblem of humiliation and defeat, became God's chosen instrument of salvation.
God's wisdom, encapsulated in the gospel, strips humanity of any room for boasting. Earthly accomplishments, whether in status, wealth, or intellect, are nothing in light of God's perfect standard (Rom 3:19-28, Eph 2:8-9).
Through the crucifixion of Christ, God unveiled the most profound wisdom, confounding worldly intellect and pride so that He alone would receive glory because He alone is worthy of it.
