When reading Luke 2, I was particularly moved by vv.17-18.  The Shepherds shared the Good News of Christ’s birth and “all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them”.  I don’t know about you, but that is not what I see regularly when I share the Gospel.    But there is something about this time of year, Christmas, that people seem warm to.  The beautiful decorations, the smell of hot apple cider, the lights, the manger scenes, the goodies, the days off, the gifts, the music, the cheer.  A message about the baby Christ is tolerated at this time of year.  Why is it that people wonder at the manger, but take offense at the Cross?

The answer is simple: the manger seems quaint, but the Cross is gruesome.  Even the people of Israel could wonder at the thought of a Messiah coming to save them, because they could still hold onto their view of what Messiah would be; preferably a King who conquer their enemies and give them their country back.  They were not looking at the manger and thinking of the Cross. 

Today, we need to be careful that the foolishness of the Cross doesn’t get veiled by the ornaments of the season.  Let’s remind ourselves once again of the bare Gospel that we must preach.  We are going to see: First, the Gospel divides the Kingdoms; Second, only the called will respond to the foolish Gospel; Third, the foolish Gospel ensures all of the glory is God’s.

The Gospel divides the Kingdom of this World and the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 1:18).  The Kingdom of this world does not get the Gospel (the Cross).  To them it is foolishness (nonsense, makes no sense).  Those of this world are described as perishing.  This means to be destroyed, ruined, or dying.  It also can mean to be lost, in a spiritual sense.  The people of this world are of a different realm all together.  This should invoke in us a bit more patience and compassion.  We cannot expect this world to automatically understand the Gospel.  The reason they do not get it, is that they are lost and bound to another world.

The Kingdom of God recognizes the Gospel as the power of God.  Instead of foolishness it is the “power of God”!  These are radically different points of view.  The power is related to salvation.  Why is it important to see the distinction in these two Kingdoms?  Because though we are preaching to all, only the called will respond.  Our aim is not to gather as many people as we can into the Church building, nor to get as many responses as we can, nor to win a popularity contest. So, let’s look carefully at what our emphasis should then be!

Only the called will respond to the foolish Gospel.  No one is going to be saved by the wisdom of this world! (1 Cor 1:19-21)  The world cannot come to know God through its own wisdom (21a).  The world cannot come to know God through its own philosophy or writings (20).  The Gospel is a foolish message to the world, but as it is preached it is powerful to save those who believe.

The power to save is only of God and not man! (1 Cor 1:22-24)  The message has everything going against it.  The message is an offense to the Jews.   It is literally scandalous (skandalon).  The message is ridiculous and nonsensical to the world.  If anyone is saved by this message, it must be through the power of God in this Gospel!  We need to be careful not to out-think God and cater to the culture (22-23).  Notice that the Jews and Greeks are looking for something.  Our culture is looking for something.  Our culture is looking for a sign.  Our culture is looking for some rational defense.  Our culture is looking for something that is attractive.  Our culture is looking for Starbucks in the foyer.  Our culture is looking for an entertaining Gospel.  Our culture is looking for a steady diet of felt need messages.  Our culture is looking for works they can do to ease their conscience.  Paul recognized that he could not conform the Gospel to the whims of the culture… “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness”.  It is the called who respond to this foolish Gospel.  It is the called who will recognize it is “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1:24)

God’s power and wisdom overcomes everything that stands against it! (1 Cor 1:25)  What appears foolish is wiser than any wisdom of man.  What appears weak is more powerful than any force of man.  We don’t have a story that man is naturally inclined to accept…it is purposefully offensive and nonsensical to carnal man…so that only God can receive the glory for salvation!

The foolish Gospel ensures all the glory is God’s!  God honors the very things this world degrades; and shames, what the world honors (1 Cor 1:26-28).  God likes Cinderella stories!  God chooses the weak, the marginalized, the base things, and the hated things of this world.  God chooses the lowly, because they reveal His glory (1 Cor 1:29-31).  The lowly life lives powerfully only because of the work of Christ!  Christ’s work yield’s wisdom.  Christ’s work provides righteousness.  Christ’s work brings sanctification.  Christ’s work has redeemed!  So, all the change in these lowly lives can yield glory to one and one alone… The Lord! (Jer 9:23-24).  The Cross is foolishness to this world…it is the symbol of weakness…it is a symbol of shame.  Therefore, those won by the message of the Cross, those who live for this truth, those whose lives are transformed, those who proclaim this truth, expose a work in them that is otherworldly.  They reveal the glory of an intervening, powerful, loving and gracious God!

At Christmas and any time, our focus ought to still be on the Cross!  This message needs no props…just faithful preaching in weakness.