Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Easter – We preach Christ crucified

1 Corinthians 1v23 “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, …. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

We might be disappointed, but we should not be surprised that many people ignore the Easter truth of Christ’s death on a cross. It seemed foolish and irrelevant to the people of Paul’s day too – why celebrate someone who has been crucified? How can it have any benefit for me?

However, for those of us to whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the spiritual realities (2v7, 10-14), the cross is both the “wisdom” and “power” of God.

• “Wisdom” because it is the way that works. The cross is the only way, in line with his character, by which us humans could be saved from the kingdom of Satan and become the children of God. The cross shows spiritual and practical truth, and it leads from condemnation for sin into forgiveness and grace.
• “Power” because it has the power to work. The cross is effective to free us from both the power and consequences of sin. Christ’s death on the cross actually takes our sin away and sets us free. The power of Christ over sin is now able to be within us. “No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in him is mine.”

Let us thank God for opening our eyes to the cross by His Spirit. May He increase our understanding and appreciation of what Christ has done this Easter time.

“O make me understand it, help me to take it in,

What it meant to thee the Holy One, to take away my sin.”

With love and blessing,

Roland