Blog

Holy Tuesday
Daily Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

If one does not know the story of Jesus – the full story – the cross (and particularly a crucifix) would be quite baffling as a positive and strengthening symbol of faith. Yet, for many centuries it has been, and continues to be. How could a brutal image of death communicate something good? The cross has been called “a sign of contradiction.” Paul certainly speaks of it in that way. He says the message of the cross seems foolish to some – to those of the world who consider themselves to be wise; but in fact, for those whose lives are being transformed because of their trust in Christ it is a sign of the power of God. Of course, Paul’s perspective of the cross is a post-resurrection view. For him, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection demonstrate God’s wisdom and power being radically different from limited human understanding.

Typically success is gauged by one’s power of control, domination, status, material wealth, and other conditions of might. However, God often works to accomplish God’s purpose through people who are considered common, of low social or economic status, weak and powerless. So Paul proclaims Jesus’ crucifixion as God’s opportunity to reveal a radically new understanding of God’s purpose and power to transform what is commonly considered hopeless into something vital. For Paul and the believers to whom he writes, they experience and are witnesses of new lives – lives of new hope, joy, community, and purpose through the Life-Giving, Life-Transforming power of God. Such transformation is available to us today as we follow the crucified, yet risen Christ.