Good Friday is a day to reflect on the suffering Jesus endured for our sins. It’s a day to reflect on the cross. Satan tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem when he was two years old through the orders Herod issued. He tried to kill him at the start of his public ministry in Nazareth by throwing him over a cliff. He tried to circumvent the cross on the Mount of Temptation. In the Garden, it was Satan’s last attempt to keep Jesus from going to the cross. Why did Satan try so hard to avoid the cross? In the cross we see:
The Power of God
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18). Jesus’ entire ministry can be summed up in the word power. Scripture testifies to the power of his birth (Lk. 1:35), the power of His life (Romans 1:4), the power of His miracles (Lk. 6:19), the power of His death (Rev. 5:12), the power of His resurrection (1 Cor. 6:14), the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), the power of His church (Acts 1:8), and the power of His return (Matt. 24:30). “There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb!” It reaches to the highest mountain. It flows to the lowest valley. The blood that gives me strength from day to day will never lose its power!
The Wisdom of God
In 1 Corinthians 1:19-23 we also see that the cross is the wisdom of God. Eight times wisdom is mentioned. Paul asked three types of experts in his day a question. The intellectual, the author/teacher, and the philosopher/debater. Has man’s wisdom helped you know God in a personal way? Have you found the answer to the world’s problems? No. The answer is the cross. “It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from Godfor us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).On the cross, God laid our sin on Jesus and gave us His righteousness. In our flesh dwells no good thing but through sanctification and the indwelling of Christ, we are being made like Him day by day. Redemption means to be released or delivered. I have been saved from the penalty of sin. I am being saved from the power of sin. I will be saved from the very presence of sin. Human wisdom manifests itself in two ways. The religious person tries to work their way to God. The intellectual tries to reason his way to God. Neither are sufficient. Only the wisdom of God could plan and provide salvation through the cross.
The Invitation of God
“God was pleased to save those who believethrough the foolishness of what is preached… Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:21, 24).Two elements necessary for salvation are found in the cross. Two words describe the process of salvation. God calls. Man believes. Jesus willingly went on the cross to save us, to heal us, and to cleanse us and wash away our sins.
No one can hear the message of the cross and remain neutral. God’s invitation is open. Everyone either accepts Him or rejects Him.If you want Jesus to save you, heal you, and wash away your sins, call on Him today.
