Christ Crucified

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Christ crucified. 

What does this mean?

A Jewish Stumblingblock

"And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." Deuteronomy 21:22-23

To the Jews, the Messiah wasn't supposed to be born in a lowly manger…
… wasn't supposed to forgive sins as if he was God.
… wasn't supposed to heal people on the Sabbath day.
… wasn't supposed to eat with sinners.
… wasn't supposed to save and forgive Gentiles.
… wasn't supposed to die on a cross.

They missed the purpose of Jesus coming to earth.

He came to take our place and redeem us from the curse of the law.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13

Foolishness to the Greeks

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

The Greeks are well known for their vast knowledge, wisdom, and intellect. They pride themselves on renown men such as Plato and Aristotle. With much natural (worldly) wisdom, they cannot receive the things of the Spirit because their eyes are blind to anything spiritual.

Similarly, we have renown men of our age who rely only on what can be seen and understood with our human minds. But God and His Son Jesus are much more than we could ever comprehend physically. It's takes the spirit of God dwelling in us for us to understand the things of God… to "know the things that are freely given to us of God", such as Christ crucified.

Power and Wisdom to the Called

"But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:24-24

We know that in ourselves, we are not capable to repay the debt owed to our Creator. It is the power and wisdom of God that He would send His Son to take our place. If He did not do this for us, we would be damned to an eternal punishment. But He took our punishment for us!

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21