According to the eternal purpose of God, He sent His son Jesus into this world to save man from his sins (Eph. 3:10-11). Hear the apostle Paul, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”(1 Cor. 2:1-2). In this statement, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified”, there are two things suggested which explains Paul’s success as a minister of the gospel. First, he was dedicated to his Master. Next he stayed riveted on his subject, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor.1:18).
What did Paul mean by the expression “The preaching of the cross?” Paul was likely acquainted with the Jewish leaders who developed the plan to murder Jesus. He also followed up the death of Jesus by attacking His disciples. Who can forget that he stood by and held the clothes of the mob while they cast stones at Stephen? They mercilessly murdered him.
Then in (Acts 9:) we see a transformation in the character of Saul. While on the road to Damascus, he had a convincing discovery out on the road. He had a discovery of the tragic error of his stand against Jesus. From that moment he had to rethink his whole life in light of Jesus. He thought he was serving God, by persecuting the disciples of Christ. He knew then God had not been on his side, but on the side of Jesus.
So to Saul, the “Preaching of the Cross” was the message which came about after his conversion (Acts 22:16). Ananias, a man of God, said to Saul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Now, a new man in Christ, Paul soon realized the preaching of the cross resulted in two attitudes (1 Cor. 1:18). “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” What is the attitude of the lost? To them that perish foolishness. notice it was not preaching which is considered foolishness, but the content of what is preached. It is the preaching of the cross which the intellectually proud regard as foolishness. They believe he lived, but they dismiss the death and resurrection of Jesus. But the attitude of the saved is the gospel, the good news of God, is the “power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16).
The greatest need of man is not wealth, health or food, but salvation from sin. All the sorrow, tragedy and heartache are summed up in one word—sin, for “Every one that does sin does also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
Disciples of Christ, must never forget what Jesus said, “And he said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matt. 22:37).
And so we thank God for Jesus and Him crucified. All who love God with all their being, demonstrate the truth by obeying His every command (John 14:15).