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. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
The Saviour of the world, crucified?
What an irony! The disciples must be so puzzled and wondered, how does this work? Not too long before Jesus’ Crucifixion, the disciples must have remembered His words, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
He who said has overcome the world, now laid in a tomb.
The Cross is seen by the world as a symbol of defeat, curses, death, shame and weakness. Paul said it is “the power of God” to those who believe. The people who live under the bondages of sin and darkness are living in defeat, curses of sins, death, threat of death (fear) and shame - powerless. The wisdom of God is to send His only begotten Son, Jesus to die on the Cross as man. Thus, taking upon Himself all that the world knows of what the Cross represents, not for Himself, but for the people of the world. Those who believe in Jesus no longer need to live in defeat, under the curses of sin, death and its threat (fear) and powerlessness, because Jesus has taken them from us. The way of God overcoming the world is in the eyes of the world, foolishness. The power of the Cross is when we recognize we can bring our sin, which is the root cause of defeat, death, fear, shame and weaknesses, to be crucified along with Jesus. In exchange, we receive from Jesus victory, life eternal, abundant life and power to overcome.
For the power of the Cross to overcome is in the wisdom and love of God:
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-30)
Let us approach the Cross with humility, thanksgiving and great expectation. Let us surrender our sins, along with defeat, fear, shame and weaknesses to Jesus, who has overcome sin and the world, conquered death and defeated Satan. In exchange, let us receive the blessing of “more than conquerors” into our lives, so that we might truly experience the goodness of Good Friday!