Victory in Shame

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Opening Prayer

Speak, Lord, in the stillness while I wait on thee; hush my heart to listen, with expectancy.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

^[18] 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. ^[19] For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” ^[20] Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ^[21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ^[22] Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ^[23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ^[24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ^[25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. ^[26] Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ^[27] 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. ^[28] God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, ^[29] so that no one may boast before him. ^[30] 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. ^[31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ^[1] And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. ^[2] For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ^[3] I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ^[4] My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ^[5] so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Meditate

“On the cross God took on himself the uttermost depths of human suffering and the most extreme consequences of human sin; he came there in Christ, although he did not stay there…he forgives sin, but also changes the sinner” (Tom Smail, 1928-2012).

Think Further

Where on earth do you take people like the Corinthians to discover the deep transformation of the Gospel? Paul walks them silently up a hill to gaze at the cross. He shows them the message of the cross (18-25); the recipients of its strange power (26-31); and the shape of its preaching (2:1-5).

The default setting of the human heart wants wisdom (Greeks), impressive and controlling intelligence to master life with humankind at the center. We are also drawn to the spectacular, the power which impresses and resolves life in the way we expect and demand (Jews). But Paul wants them to see that true power is sourced somewhere else. The closer you get to the cross, the more your disguises are penetrated. Here at the cross we are exposed; our defenses and wisdom begin to melt; our self-esteem is shaken. Our pride rises to the surface as stones are pushed to the surface of a field after a long winter (29).

This is the place human wisdom is hollowed out enough for us to hear “But God” (1:7; Acts 2:24; Eph. 2:4). Here is the great reversal we resist with all our power. But it is where hope irrupts. Here comes flying in the great disruption of the expected–in the cross and in the cross alone. “But God…” is like the tidal-boar I saw as a child on the riverbanks somewhere in the Maritimes. All at once the river began to move backwards! The wisdom of man is overthrown, and the greatest power in the world is released.

How do you preach that (2:1-5)? In joyful humility (3), in the laughter of expectancy, trusting that God will take our utter foolishness and breathe his power into the emptiness. Luther said of Jesus: “He knows how to ride the lame horse; he knows how to carve the rotten wood.”

Apply

Thank God for the great reversals he is doing in your life. Where is the power of these two words (But God) hitting you today? Write it down in a sentence.

Closing prayer

Lord, break my addiction to human wisdom, to the constant worry of the impressions I make. Take me to the place where I tremble again in weakness–that I might move in Your grace and power alone.

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