"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 ESV
King James uses foolishness instead of folly. I like foolishness better. The cross is either foolishness or it is the power of God. It may be the most polarizing act in human history. It will not fit the mold of man's natural thinking.
The cross becomes hope the the hopeless. It is medicine for the sick. In it the meek see instruction. For the humble it becomes a doorway.
All the while the intellectual can look on and find reasons to scoff it. The healthy see no need for that kind of healing. The Earthly minded just person sees forgiveness like that as a dangerous precedent.
"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." 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 ESV
We are all become equals at the foot of the cross. Christ had such power in His weakness. It is a drawing power. God's love on display.
One of Christ's names is the Rose of Sharon. A flower is a good example and lovers use them all the time. If you chop up a flower and examine it's chemical properties you discover one thing about it. If you pluck it fresh and hand it to a young lady you discover another.
I want to hand out the cross like I would hand out a flower.
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