A Word about Death for a Time of Fear
/
by Jon Buck
There are dangers in our current world—sickness, unemployment, financial ruin. When we hear about the fear that is all around us, our tendency can sometimes be to point people to good things.
We can try to conciliate those around us with hopes for future peace. Things will get better. There’s always a way out. A new bill will fix the problems.
However, this isn’t always true, and, rather than hope in the government or in the economy, our hope needs to be in power of God.
Death and power
What’s so interesting is that the way that Paul offers hope and power is through death—not his death, but the death of Jesus Christ.
“The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” ~ 1 Cor. 1:18
I would never think to offer the death of the Son of God as the hope for power. The cross was the moment of greatest weakness in the life of Jesus, by all appearances.
But for Paul, Jesus’ death was the crowning triumph of His power, and the Gospel was the offer of that power to people.
What’s the connection? So how does talking about the death of Christ offer power for our present time?
The answer is in the verse.
Paul says he word of the cross is power, “…to us who are being saved…” We are being saved through the life and death of the Son of God.
Jesus died for all our sins.
We are completely free from any condemnation from God.
Our eternity is forever secured.
Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith.
We are loved by the sovereign Creator of the universe.