The Power of the Cross

In a city I used to live in there was a massive, beautiful tree in the center of an intersection of a main thoroughfare. However, one day during a severe storm the tree toppled, and an interesting discovery was made by all. The tree was completely hollow. The rotting process had left the tree beautiful on the outside, but empty on the inside. It really was only a shell; the tree had ceased to be a strong vibrant tree many years prior.

The same can be said of many churches that have the appearance of being alive on the outside, but have become only empty shells. How does this happen? It happened to the Corinthian church as they had allowed a spirit of pride to enter the church and in so doing had emptied the gospel of its power to save. The boastful spirit that found its way into the church was completely at odds with the definition of the gospel. The gospel doesn’t leave any room for boasting. Our redemption depends on the mercy of God and God alone. You and I are sinners who should be on our way to hell except for the grace of God. The gospel demands we be humbled in ordered for Christ to be exalted in our lives. That’s how it works, and any other approach to salvation is mistaken.

A couple of years ago I saw a popular preacher was interviewed on television. When asked if he preached against sin, he stated that he never mentions the word sin or sinner because people feel guilty enough. That answer, although politically correct, is dangerous. It is perilous because it supposes that we are not as bad as we think we are or that somehow our sin can be ignored. The truth is that no matter what some popular preacher says, we are worse off than we could imagine. We are lost without Jesus Christ.

When Jesus prayed an agonizing prayer in the garden, he asked his father if the cross was necessary.

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt 26:39). Yet even in his prayer he submits his will to that of his father. Jesus, after his resurrection, explained to two disciples that the cross was part of God’s plan: “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27).

The first sermon preached by Peter to the newly baptized church on the day of Pentecost states the same essential fact: “This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23). God knew in advance what would happen to his son—the cross was no surprise. This is good to remember when it seems that nothing good is happening in your life.

The cross of Christ proves that God's plans are good. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the most evil deed ever committed on this planet. God's own perfect Son was put to death by wicked men. What could be more evil than that? At the same time, however, the crucifixion of Jesus was the best thing that ever happened on this planet. As we shall see, the cross has brought salvation to the world. If God brought the greatest good out of the greatest evil, he can bring good out of what seems to be evil in your own life. It is all part of God's good plan.[i]

Our view of the cross must remain the same if we are to experience God’s saving grace in our lives. Any attempt to exalt our human achievement instead of the work of Christ on the cross will empty the gospel of its power to save.

Paul’s testimony should be our testimony:

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

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[i] James M. Boice & Philip Ryken, The Heart of the Cross, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 1999, p. 116

God’s Invitation to Nobodies

When passenger ships were powered by huge sails a long time ago, they carried a passenger list with the names written down according to the social pecking order. First were the royalty and the wealthy. The list acknowledged their status and position. However, at the bottom of the list was the remaining number of persons with the notation "Persons of no importance." From a human perspective there have always been persons of no importance, but from God’s perspective there are no such persons. The Christmas Story is a reminder of God’s wonderful invitation to nobodies that he considers them important.

The night that Jesus was born in the obscure village of Bethlehem none of the important players of the Roman Empire or of the land of Israel were present. Joseph and Mary were poor. They had no suitable quarters to stay in. In fact, only a stable, which was likely a cave, was provided for them. It was here that Mary gave birth to her son Jesus and wrapped him in strips of cloths.

Mighty angels were immediately dispatched from heaven to give an invitation to a “bunch of Nobodies” to be the first guests to visit the King of the Jews. Luke describes the event like this:

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-20).

The shepherds responded enthusiastically to the angel’s announcement and went to see the baby Jesus. Then they told everyone they met about Jesus and the angel’s visit. They were changed for what they saw and experienced that night. They were the first to announce this story to the world. God used “nobodies” to announce this message.

It is amazing that God allowed the Shepherds to first see his son. They were the first to bow and worship the Christ-child. They were first to be amazed in his presence. This was not an accident, but rather it was a message to all generations that God’s son had come for the nobodies of this world.

Have you ever felt like a nobody? Maybe you sometimes feel your life is unimportant, or maybe you feel like an outcast. If you have ever struggled with being accepted, then you know a little of how the shepherds felt, because they were not accepted by society.

Just as the shepherds were important enough to God to be the first invited guests to see his newborn son, you, too, are important to God. If you have ever felt like you are not important because you haven’t accomplished great things, then you are in good company. If you have felt that you’re anonymous and nobody knows who you are, then think again because God does. When it came time for somebody to go and welcome his son, he went to your ranks. He sent his powerful angels to inform the shepherds and give them instructions of where to find his son. He gave that privilege to them.

God’s methods that day were as the Apostle Paul said,

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:22-34).