The greatest danger to Christian preaching today is that it relies more on the power of oratory, multimedia presentations and self-help tips. These things do not have the power to break strongholds of Satan and deliver the people from slavery to sin. For that to happen, the message of the cross has to be preached with simplicity and the power of God’s Spirit. Yes, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV).
The message of the cross is foolishness to many because it presents the Son of God crucified. It seems to be a picture of weakness, not triumph. How can such a man, poor, naked and bleeding, and hanging on a cross be the Saviour of the world? This is the question that haunts many a mind. But that was God’s method. He chose what was weak and what was foolish to destroy the wisdom of the world. No miraculous signs are given by God to convince people. But He tells those who want to be saved, “Look to my Son and be saved.”
Dear Child of God, don’t ever try to present the gospel of a popular Jesus Christ. Many love to earn the praise of men by presenting Jesus as a great teacher, a powerful prophet, a communist hero, a miracle-worker and so on. But these are not what makes Him unique and able to save men. It was His sinless life and afterwards the shedding of His precious blood on the cross that brought salvation to men. To those who look to the crucified Christ, His death on the cross becomes the power of God which results in salvation.
The attractiveness of the gospel is not that Jesus heals or that Jesus blesses everyone who comes to Him. That is not the gospel message at all. Oh, yes He heals, He does miracles, and He does bless people even today because He is the Risen Saviour and the LORD of all. But the attracting power, the magnetic pull, the great wooing power of sacrificial love of the gospel is Jesus lifted up from the earth on the cross. This He Himself had declared (John 3:14,15; 12:32, 33).
Therefore let us point others to Jesus on the cross. It is the gateway to heaven. It reminds us of eternal life which He came to offer us as a free gift. He died not to just to bless our life on earth and make us comfortable. No. He died to make us aware that we have no permanent home here. He died to lift us up from the bondages of earth to the freedom of heaven and the glorious and joyful presence of God. But no one can enjoy it all without coming to accept the message of the foolishness of the cross. There is no other way. The crucified Christ alone can bring anyone to God the Father in heaven.