“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’”

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (ESV)

One of the hardest things in life is dealing with someone who cannot grasp a concept which seems so basic. It can be trying to describe something to a child or describing a process to someone who just isn’t getting it. It can be frustrating or downright infuriating. Many times, we find ourselves having to take a step back and breathing for a moment in an attempt to shake off the frustration. This is often a result of being proficient in a certain field. If you know something very well, it seems basic to you even though it might seem overly complicated to someone less experienced or proficient. Sometimes the frustration can come from the opposite experience. That is, trying to grasp a concept that seems simple enough, but ends up being overly complicated or difficult. Has this ever happened to you?

This is what the Gospel is designed to be. It is meant to make sense only to those who have been affected by its power. Think about it for a moment. God, the creator of all things, took on flesh and lived as a man. Then, this God humbled himself. He didn’t become a royal prince or king over a great kingdom on earth, nor did he become a magnificent warrior. He was born in a stable and had a feeding trough as a crib. He grew up in Nazareth and, as Nathaniel in John 1 points out, nothing good comes from Nazareth. He then had a public ministry marked by the ridicule of the religious rulers and ended with a public execution at the hands of some of the cruelest people on earth: the Romans. He then rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He did all of this to save people who have rebelled against his Law over and over again. He came to save you and me. This great news makes no sense and yet it is the greatest gift we can ever receive.

This week, think about what God has given you in the Gospel. Share this news with someone you know that they may understand this amazing grace.