The Cross Of Christ - God's Foolishness

"Today's Devotion" For April 4, 2007

Read: I Corinthians 1:18-25; Psalm 19


THE CROSS - GOD'S FOOLISHNESS

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:18)

Yesterday, in the State of Wisconsin, there was an election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. There were two candidates, both female, from different ends of the political spectrum. Now this particular electoral race is supposed to be non-partisan, but of course, as you can well imagine, the two major political parties gravitated to the candidate that better fit their political preferences. Now, I'm bringing this race to your attention because some very interesting things happened that I believe help illustrate what Paul is writing to us in today's reading in First Corinthians.

The first thing that stood out in this race was the amount of money spent. According to news sources, over $1.5 million was spent - a record for a contest for the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Mudslinging was a staple of the campaign right from the start. One of the candidates never prosecuted a criminal case in her life, never sat on a judicial bench of any kind, and focuses on immigration law. The other candidate had been an assistant U. S. Attorney, prosecuting many criminal cases, has been a sitting judge for a long time, and has the experience and credentials to sit on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Her opponent began questioning her integrity and judgment by claiming the judge had not recused herself from cases involving a business on whose board of directors her husband sat. Another charge was to single out a few sentences that seemed quite lenient for sexual predators - obviously ignoring the fact the judge is known for issuing longer sentences as a whole for sexual predators than the State average.

The results of the election? If you live in Wisconsin you know the sitting judge was elected by a 58% to 42% margin. While many have declared it a landslide, I see that almost half of the voters chose to believe the innuendo and mudslinging of the judge's opponent - or just voted for the opponent because of her political leanings. I'm wondering how much this shows how foolish we really are as a people and a society; that we can't see through the nonsense and grasp the truth.

Spiritually, God's people find themselves in the same kind of situation. We have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior from Sin. He's walked the walked, talked the talk, and walked the talk all the way to the Cross. His suffering, death, and resurrection are living testimony of God's love and compassion for humanity, and His burning desire to redeem human beings from the curse of Sin, death, Satan, and the Law. Yet the mudslinging continues unabated - the Christ was mocked and ridiculed all the way to the Cross and the same mocking and ridicule is experienced by those who follow Him today.

The message of the Cross is, as St. Paul notes, foolishness to the world. How stupid is a "God" who takes on being human and suffers and dies the ignominious death of a common criminal and thug. And we, the people of God, scratch our heads and wonder over and over again why others can't see the truth, can't get past the "mudslinging," and just won't open their eyes to see the One who walked the walk of the perfect and obedient Son of the Father. Jesus' perfect obedience to God's Law for us becomes our righteousness, our obedience before the Father. It's not foolishness, but God's wisdom. It's not nonsense, but God's free gift of His grace that saves us for eternity with Him.

Rest assured, the Cross is and will remain God's foolishness to those who reject Him and His love. But for you and me who believe it is the greatest wisdom in the Universe. Jesus paid the price for us. Our sins are forgiven. As we walk the "Via Dolorosa" with Jesus this Holy Week, may His Spirit remind us that God's truth is foolishness to sinners but wisdom to His saints.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness and life that is mine through faith in Jesus. Forgive me when I let the false wisdom of the world dictate my feelings toward You, my behavior toward others, and doubts and fears concerning Your love for me. While the world all around me continues to deny Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus, give me the strength of faith by Your Word and Spirit, to ignore the mudslinging and derision that come to all who confess Jesus' name and proclaim Your love in Him to a sin filled world. Keep me from being fearful of what others might think about You and Your gift of salvation in Christ Jesus, and boldly live my confession of faith so that all may see my "credentials" as Your child and know that Your "foolishness" is the wisdom that saves. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.