The Word of the Cross

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Corinthians 1:18)

The Scriptures are the Written Word. Christ is the Living Word. The Word of the Cross - is the Preached Word.

You will have noticed that not every preached message is about the cross of Jesus Christ. But you may not have realised that the cross of Jesus Christ, is, rightly understood, about every sermon. It is indeed about, central to, and therefore, in some way, related to, every matter in heaven and on earth, from start to finish. Or as Buzz Light Year once said: ‘to infinity, and beyond!’

It is an amazing thing to realise that “the power of the Cross reaches into every nook and cranny of history and of creational living” (Geoff Bingham).

Have we underestimated the power of the cross? Yes.

In every case, in every life, in every situation, we have not fully counted on the power of the cross. It is God’s central deed in history, to heal and redeem, to judge and to reconcile, to save and to damn. The Cross is the Father’s mighty deed to plan, the Son’s delight and joy to embrace, and the Holy Spirit’s task to assist with, to open up, to shine upon, to draw people into, and to minister effectively to every person, and circumstance in all creation. God has acted in love and grace. We must respond to the Word of the cross; we must have faith; we must receive the blessing of God, the grace which flows from the cross. Have you?

Prayer: O Living God! O Active Christ! O Spirit of truth, reveal this grace to me, in me. In Jesus name, Amen.