Pastor Tom Johnson, September 14, 2014
The message of the Cross is both simple and profound. We wear the cross as jewelry, make the sign of the cross on our breasts, and set this symbol high on our walls and buildings. From time to time, it’s good to remind ourselves of its effect on our faith life as well as those around us who may not share our faith. It’s no surprise that the message of the Cross is foolishness to the world. That’s why Paul quotes the Hebrew Scripture. Long before the Cross of Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote down what God promises to do: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” To put it in today’s terms: “I will confuse the philosophy of philosophers. I will disrupt the theology of theologians. I will frustrate the academics of academicians. I will defy the science of scientists. I will annoy the agnosticism of the agnostics. I will upset the atheism of atheists. I will trouble the Lutheranism of Lutherans.”God is Lord and Creator of heaven and earth! He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever present. Compared to God, who among us is truly wise? Christianity is not anti-intellectual but there are limits to human intelligence and observation. Human learning, exploration, and discovery are worthy endeavors and essential to our shared life together. But isn’t it also true that life also includes things that we cannot explain such as mystery, the supernatural, and divine? God knew all along—since the beginning—that the message of the Bible would appear to be a foolish, ridiculous, and even irrational to the world. And, I believe, God even gets a chuckle out of the fact that its message defies worldly wisdom. Paul reminds us that some people will not believe the Gospel until they experience something sensational. Others will not believe until they satisfy their every curiosity. Some will not believe until religion fits into a nice, tidy, rational box. But our job is not to try to impress people with miracles or try to explain away every mystery of our faith. “We preach Christ crucified,” Paul says. Our message is about God the Father who reveals his love for the world; he sends his Son to confront sin, evil, and death on a Roman cross.
Paul does not want us to forget that this simple message has profound implications and is a challenge for many people to understand and accept. We believe in one God; we believe he is three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a stumbling block to rationalists. We confess that God sent His Son from heaven to earth; this does not fit neatly into astrophysics. We believe Jesus was born of a virgin; this is certainly an obstacle for biologists. Jesus taught about a Kingdom without borders and ethnic divisions; this frustrates nationalists. Instead of calling a legion of angels and human armies, Jesus willingly died on the Cross—confounding militarists. By His death, He defeated death; by His resurrection, He assures us of a new creation of peace and eternal life baffling all the world.
But for us the message of the Gospel is power. The story of Jesus is wisdom. Yes, it surpasses human comprehension. And that it should because its origin is not human but divine. That is why I am so grateful for our partnership here at First Saint Paul’s. Our mission on the back of the bulletin is first and foremost to proclaim Christ. We need each other’s support in this divine endeavor. We need each other’s prayers. It’s why our conversation and community is so vitally important. God calls us to humility—humility about our own human potential for strength and wisdom. The power does not come from us but the Cross. Even though some critics may say that we embrace religion because we are too weak-minded to live in a world full of ambiguity and unanswered questions, God gives us true peace, comfort, and faith that surpass understanding. He gives us assurance of his grace and his love—not in a way that gives us glory or makes us look attractive to the world—but in a way that is humbling—where we are reminded that we are flawed, weak, and foolish apart from Him.
Instead, we lift high the Cross of Jesus Christ. For there we see the heart of the narrative of our salvation. We see God’s Instagram of his love for us. It is a picture that tells the story of our Creator who loves all the world—so much so that he sent his Son Jesus to be lifted up high. On the Cross of Calvary he overcomes all the things that keep us from a loving relationship with our heavenly Father. There we are forgiven, accepted, and assured of eternal life. Ridiculous? Foolish? Absurd even? Perhaps. But most certainly true, comforting, beautiful, powerful, and powerful for our living.
Amen.
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