But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 130)
The Apostle Paul leaves us in no doubt whatsoever concerning the focus of his ministry. He expresses it more than once in the opening chapters of First Corinthians. We preach Christ crucified (123) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (22)
The emphasis is in spite of its unpopularity at the time. The Greeks looked for philosophizing and the Jews for miraculous signs, but God’s ‘wisdom’ is found in this extraordinary historic event of crucifixion. Scholars dispute the sense and significance of the trio, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. In the absence of any other juxtaposition of these three and this order, we propose that Paul uses the great combination as a way of saying that everything that is important and matters is encompassed. Everything that God has to say is summarized in this great agonizing act. Christ in crucifixion became all that has to be said and done.
Whatever the audience, Jewish or Gentile, and whatever the need to be addressed, the cross says it all. We may be speaking apologetically, pastorally or evangelistically, to the young or to the old, but Christ crucified is always the right message. Before going onto the platform with Pastor Richard Wumbrandt, a close friend of mine announced that he had heard the Pastor speak several years earlier. Upon that Wumbrandt asked what he had preached on that occasion. My friend, a little embarrassed, admitted that he could not recall. He was rebuked with the words, “I preached Christ. I always preach Christ!”
If the message is Apologetic the subject must be Christ. Of course there is a very important place for discussing all sorts of issues such as epistemology (how we know what we know), origins, the problem of evil, and so on, but we will always come back to the Saviour.
Let us take the last of those issues as an example and the point will be clear. The problem of the existence of sin and suffering in a world in the control of a loving and omnipotent God is a perennial cause of perplexity, to put it mildly. How can God tolerate evil? He does appear to tolerate it, but that is incomprehensible. There is no easy answer; we can offer no fool-proof solution to the problem. Nevertheless, we can say something that puts the issue in a different perspective and it is this: God has come in Christ and has been involved in and subject to the sin and suffering of this world. He does not preside over it remotely with no personal knowledge of it. It has brutally impinged on Him personally, in time and space. He has even uttered the ‘Why’ question Himself: “My God, My God, why…?”
This perspective is not a conclusive answer to all our questions, but it does bring new light to the problem.
If the message is Pastoral the subject must be Christ. We all have to experience difficult days sooner or later. Perhaps friends have disappointed us, others have falsely accused us, rogues have ripped us off or robbed us. Or perhaps we have been in pain because of illness, accident or even assault. And so the troubles of this life go on. Often I would like to be able to say to another that I know the experience and understand. Usually I do not know and can only begin to guess. What I can confidently say, though, is that Christ has walked this painful path and He knows, He really knows what suffering is all about…
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help. (Hebrews 415-16)
My dear friend, the Lord knows all about your troubles. He has been in this world. See Him at Calvary; look up at the crucified Saviour and hear Him cry.
If the message is Evangelistic the subject must be Christ. It is no good encouraging a man to keep the commandments or to observe religious duties and leave it at that. Neither a moral life nor a pious deportment will be of much use when it comes to the final judgment. When the question is asked at the pearly gate as to why we should be admitted, no answer that begins “I have…” will make any favourable impression.
I need to point men to the cross. There is life for a look at the crucified One. What matters for salvation is what He has done.
If I remember Christ crucified I will always have something to say that will address the need of the man I have with me. I will have the very message that helps whoever he is.
My audience may be very young, but I shall still speak of the cross. At Mr Noah’s Nursery School we always have a Bible story at the end of the morning or the afternoon. The children have a favourite story. They call it ‘the sad story’ because it is associated with a song that begins “Oooh, what sad day when the angry leaders killed Jesus; oooh, what sad day when they laid His body in a tomb.” It is the story of the cross. You would hardly believe that three year old children would listen to such an account, but it is a real favourite.
Another day I will be with one who is at the end of this worldly life. Some die with confident peace because they know the Lord and where they go. Others may be fearful. I can tell you how I will speak to the man who is frightened of the unknown and who asks what he must do. I say to him, “Hold on to Christ who was crucified. Just hold on to Him and you will be safe.”