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1 Corinthians 1:17-18 – For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 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.”
I have a friend who loves to do these. She does two or three a week. She even takes them with her when she goes on vacation up north. I find that hard to imagine because I think of vacation as a time to get away from work. But for her, these aren’t work but actual fun. I’m talking about crossword puzzles. I have never succeeded in doing these. And I would never think of them as part of my vacation. But my friend loves them, and I expect that many you do so also.
What’s the appeal of doing something that, to me, seems like a collection of dead ends and lost causes? Well, in terms of my friend, being smart and well-read certainly has to help, along with a whole lot of determination. Besides that, my friend says that when you do lots of puzzles, you see many of the same questions and answers again and again. I had no idea that anyone would reuse the same question, but it makes sense. You have a good question and a great answer—use it again!
Paul talks about the cross words of his message. Paul tells us that he preached the words of the Gospel which are the words of the cross. In the Gospel message, Paul addressed some of the same questions that the world has always had. And in the words of the cross, he has the same answers that have worked for all time. Notice that Paul says that his message and therefore his answers are not from eloquent speech. We don’t have to worry that Paul will leave us behind with his questions, asking what we could never know. No, Paul spoke plainly to the lasting questions that we still face.
What are those familiar questions answered by the Gospel? Let’s start with this: Where do we find the love of God shown to the world? The answer must be simply, in two words: the cross. Next we might ask, Who would be willing to bear the cross? The answer, one word, is again simply Jesus. Let’s ask one more important question: “Where have my sins gone?” The answer, again, two words, the cross.
Ask those familiar, essential questions over and over—the answer will always point to the cross of Jesus. There is the power of God. There is His love for the world fixed in place. In the cross, God comes down from heaven, the vertical beam of the cross, and intersects all the world, from east to west, the horizontal beam of the cross. There is the power of God’s plan, a simple intersection between heaven and earth meeting the center of all people, for all time, east to west.
That’s the answer that the world needs to know. It seems so simple and familiar. And it should be since God has made no secret of the power of the cross. Paul’s preaching has been repeated for 2,000 years.
When I asked my friend how she was able to finish these puzzles, she did remind me, “Well, you know, they print the answers on the back.” Now, I’m not saying that she ever gets the answer by looking at the back. But, if I were determined to do a crossword puzzle, I would be wearing out that page, going from question to answer and back again. If I let myself do that, maybe not always but just as needed, I might even enjoy doing these puzzles. If I know the answers, or if I know where to find them, bring on the puzzle.
Isn’t it reassuring that God has not hidden the answers for life’s questions? We don’t even have to turn to the back of the Bible or find a small line printed upside down at the bottom of an unmarked page. No, as Paul said, his message was not eloquent and it was certainly not hidden. But he preached the Gospel boldly; we can read it confidently. In the simple Gospel right before us is the assurance of God’s plan and power. Here in the cross is the love and power of God. Here are the cross words that are already filled by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Here, where heaven and earth meet east and west, here is God’s power on the cross. Amen.
WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending us Your Son even onto the cross. Thank You that His message is clear and powerful. And help us to grow in our complete trust in His work on the cross. We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola.
Reflection Questions:
- If you like crossword puzzles, what’s your favorite thing about them?
- How is the “word of the cross” the “power of God” for our salvation?
- Explain how God’s love stretches from east to west through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross?
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