1 Corinthians 1:20-24 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

If you are on your death bed because of the bubonic plague and two doctors stand in front of you, which will you choose in hopes that they might heal you? The one who has intellect, wisdom and teaches other doctors how to heal people or the doctor who has fewer credentials, but has been healing people for decades?

Our author is pointing to something important. I think it boils down to the difference between that which sounds good, even reasonable, and that which actually heals. A person can tell you how they can help you and a person can help, which do you prefer?

I tell you what, the devil is a master at lying to you and redefining what actually needs to be healed. He can purposely misdiagnose you and get you to believe his recommendation, to go with it and all the while, you end up dying from the true, hidden-from-your-eyes, condition.

Paul writes to his listener and reiterates the truth that the message of the cross is what heals people. He points to the wisdom of the world and talks about the folly in it.

You have to understand that the wisdom of the world is real. It can help people with some problems found in the earthly realm. But wisdom found on earth cannot help people with the sin plague at all. Rather, it disguises the real problem in all cases.

This is precisely why Jesus exposes and confounds the wisdom and discernment of this world. People will stop with the world’s wisdom and not look further to the sin plague they have.

Paul helps his listener to understand that education and learning does not exist as a prerequisite to receiving or dispensing God’s cure for the sin plague. The world looks at credentials of the speaker as to the legitimacy of the message. And in some cases that is important, but not many.

The kingdom of God does not move forward on the wings of credentials or deep thinking. The kingdom of God moves forward by the power of God. Those who understand where the power of God is derived will be those whom God uses to dispense His power. Allow me to share again the phrase from verses 18-19 that you are remembering right now.

“The message of the cross is the power of God.”

The message of the cross is what saves people. The message of the cross has the power to cure the sin plague and any conversation that exists that attempts to take its place, God thwarts.

Now, “wisdom” is a word that Paul uses. Let’s dig into this because it is important for our discussion.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

The wisdom of the world, at its core is self-promoting. Earthly wisdom is the search to answer the question, “Who am I?”

I have studied many philosophers and they all have their place…not sure what place that is, but they have their place. Each new school of thought attempts to answer the question stated above, in a different way. Everyone is searching for the answer to…who am I?

The fear of the Lord becomes a wisdom producing thing in a person when that person looks at God and asks the question, “Who are you?”

Earthly wisdom even gets the question wrong. We don’t ask, “who are you”, we ask “who am I”? Earthly wisdom relies upon man’s answer to that question and discards an encounter with God as a viable answer. But all through scripture, God reveals who He is to a man and then the man understands his identity through an encounter with God.

The message of the cross which is the power of God draws a person to the cross and upon looking at the cross, a person asks the question… “Who are you?” And from the cross comes back the thundering still small voice… “You are loved.”

The earth’s wisdom says, “Love yourself in whatever you choose to believe.” The message of the cross which is the power of God says, “I love you and gave myself for you. I know who you are. Come closer and see who I am. Come closer and see who you are.”

It is good to be known by God. It is good to be loved by God. Our identity is found in Him.

He heals the sin plague and so much more!

Father, at the cross we find Your Son Jesus. At the cross we find our identity. Lead us there. We need a fresh encounter with You.

Blessings,

Pastor D.