The Foolishness of the Cross

As we move closer to the weekend of Easter and the universal celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I want to suggest that we focus today on praying just what the cross of Jesus means to us all. As Christians around the world celebrate, many people will be looking at us with questioning minds wondering why in the world are we wasting our time. The apostle Paul said it like this: “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” 1 Cor. 1:18. Foolish to the world! THE CROSS!     You have to think for a moment that for sure they think it is foolish – why in the world would one man come and pay the price for the sins of all mankind: past, present, and future? To them our message of the cross is foolish. I just read about a professor, an agnostic professor that had the chance to visit the Fiji Islands. It was obvious to him right away of the influence of western missionaries upon the people of the one particular island that he was touring. He could see the church buildings and the crosses everywhere he went. As he was being shown around by the chief of one particular village, he made the comment standing outside the church of the village: “Chief, why would you all still be celebrating the old, worn-out story about a man that supposably came to earth to die on a cross for the sins of all mankind. I mean the story is thread bear with conviction and now modern thinking people no longer even listen to the story.” The chief looked at him and back to the church building they were standing in front of and smiled. The chief then looked at the professor and asked him, “Professor, do you see that rock over there next to the church? That rock is the rock that we used to smash the heads of our enemies to kill them before we ate them? Do you see that old oven there next to the rock? That’s the oven that we would then cook them in before we ate them. If we didn’t believe in the cross and the message of salvation that it has brough to us, you would of all ready be prepared for our supper tonight.” The Cross maybe foolish to those who don’t know Jesus, but it is the power of God unto our salvation!