{"id":1408,"date":"2021-09-26T13:01:10","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T18:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1408"},"modified":"2021-09-26T13:01:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-26T18:01:10","slug":"the-preaching-of-the-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/26\/the-preaching-of-the-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"The Preaching of the Cross"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cFor the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.<\/strong>\u201d
1 Corinthians 1:18 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many times in the Old Testament, we read of the promise of Jesus. No one\nknew His name, yet God\u2019s people were to be looking for Him the same. At times,\nGod revealed specific things He wanted the people to understand. \u201cBehold, my\nservant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very\nhigh\u201d<\/strong> (Isaiah 52:13). \u201cBehold, my servant<\/strong>\u201d is speaking of Jesus. God\nsaid Jesus would \u201cdeal prudently<\/strong>\u201d meaning Jesus would succeed in\ncompleting what God expected Him to do. Continuing through that verse, see that\nit says that Jesus will be \u201cexalted and extolled<\/strong>\u201d which means \u201cto raise, or lift up; to carry off; take\naway; it is the idea of one who is a substitution bearing the guilt or\npunishment of sin<\/em>.\u201d So just from that one verse we understand that God told\nIsaiah that He would send Jesus who would complete the task of being lifted up\nas the one who would take away the guilt and punishment of sin by becoming the\nsubstitute \u2013 the one who took sinful man\u2019s place. This is what God had promised\nAdam and Eve in the garden (see Genesis 3:15).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were to be aware of the suffering death that this One\nwould have to endure. Remember that when Jesus came, He was scourged and\ndelivered to be crucified (see Matthew 27:26, 29-30). Why did this happen? \u201cSo\nshall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that<\/em>\nwhich had not been told them shall they see; and that<\/em> which they had not\nheard shall they consider<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah 52:15). Understand that this verse tells\nus that Jesus\u2019 death would enable Him to \u201csprinkle\u201d many nations. \u201cSprinkle many nations<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cto cleanse from sin; the Servant of the Lord came to make an atonement\nfor the sins of even the Gentiles<\/em>.\u201d In the Old Testament, the people\nunderstood the high priest had to sprinkle the blood of the ram upon the altar\nto cover their sins for another year (see Exodus 29:20). God sent His Son to take\naway the sin (not cover), and allowed the entire world to \u201csee\u201d and then to\n\u201cconsider.\u201d \u201cSee<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cto gain understanding<\/em>\u201d;\nand \u201cconsider<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cto observe; to pay\nattention to; to gain insight or understanding<\/em>.\u201d Each person has to see and\ndecide (believe) for himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately after Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, there were still\nmany who did not understand what had happened, and many did not believe Jesus\nhad even risen from the dead. There were two in particular who were on the road\nto Emmaus, not far from Jerusalem.\nOn the evening of Jesus\u2019 resurrection, they were walking and discussing all\nthey had heard. Jesus joined them, walking and talking with them, yet they did\nnot recognize Him (see Luke 24:15-16). When He asked what things they were\ndiscussing, they explained, \u201cConcerning Jesus of <\/strong>Nazareth<\/strong>,\nwhich was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20.\nAnd how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to\ndeath, and have crucified him. 21. But we trusted that it had been he which\nshould have redeemed <\/strong>Israel<\/strong>:\nand beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done<\/strong>\u201d\n(Luke 24:19b-21). They were trying to \u201cconsider\u201d but did not yet understand. After\nwalking with them, listening to them as they continue their discussion, Jesus\nresponded: \u201c25. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to\nbelieve all that the prophets have spoken: 26. Ought not Christ to have\nsuffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27. And beginning at Moses\nand all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things\nconcerning himself<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 24:25-27). They needed to believe, by faith. \u201cBut to him that worketh not, but believeth\non him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness<\/strong>\u201d\n(Romans 4:5).    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is almost amazing to those today, who are Believers, to\nunderstand how they could not have recognized Jesus. However, many times in the\nOld Testament people should have understood and recognized what God was doing, yet\nthey most of the time, they did not. All throughout the Old Testament, the\npeople were taught of God, but they had a hard time understanding that He had\nbeen speaking of Jesus, who was to come. They lacked faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor the preaching of the cross is to them that perish\nfoolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God<\/strong>\u201d (1 Corinthians 1:18). See the following to help understand what\nthis verse means:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n