The word of the cross - foolishness or power

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no human may boast before God. ³⁰ But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, ⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.

In Mark 16:15-18 Jesus says:  “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  Today’s text says:  The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.” Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind. We are called and commissioned to share the gospel to all the world. We are not responsible for the results or the response of those who here our message. Jesus says: The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.  Some will consider us foolish. Paul says:  God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  There are many who think themselves wise, many who will debate and argue, trying to discredit and disprove the gospel.  it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”  In John 14:6 Jesus says:“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”  In John 12:32 He says:  “If I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.”  We are not to concern ourselves with the response of others to the gospel message. Some will believe, while other will think us foolish. We are simply to speak the truth, to lift up Jesus, preach Christ crucified, and He says  “I…will draw all people to Myself.”

In the text Paul says: And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.  Remember that Jesus said: “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  The next verses of Mark 16 say:  So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.  There are many today who desire to operate in the power of the Spirit as Paul and the early church did. Many though share messages that focus on the benefits of being a Christian. Perhaps if we want to see signs and wonders, if we want to cast out demons and see people healed and delivered, we need to proclaim Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. In John 14:12-14 Jesus says: “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” In Acts 1:8 Jesus says:  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”   If we want to do the works of Jesus, if we want the power of the Holy Spirit, it begins by being faithful to His words, by be His witnesses. If we will lift Him up, if we will preach Christ and Him crucified, He will work with us and through us, to confirm the word. “whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit. I believe. I am willing to be called foolish for the sake of the gospel. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may I be a faithful witness of the power of the cross. May I preach Christ and Him crucified and leave the results to You. Amen.