But we preach Christ crucified,
to the Jews a stumbling block
and to the Greeks foolishness.
Jesus was a Stumbling Block to many of the Jewish people of His day, although many other Jewish people chose to follow Jesus as their Messiah. They should not have rejected Jesus because He was born a Jew, the Seed of Abraham and the Son of David. They were looking for military deliverance from Rome; Jesus came to deliver them from their bondage to sin. They wanted political peace; Jesus came to give them spiritual peace. They wanted prosperity; Jesus came to give them the riches of Heaven. Many rejected Jesus, a Stumbling Block, because they were looking for the wrong kind of Messiah. Do you know people who are looking for the wrong things from God? How about you? When you seek God, are you looking for the right things?
Jesus, I accept Your offer of spiritual liberty and forgiveness. You came into the world for sinners like me. I will not stumble over the good things You offer.
Jesus is a Stumbling Block to many people today. They don’t expect a humble Savior who submitted to crucifixion. They don’t expect a suffering Servant who was tortured and finally died an ignominious death. They stumble over the idea of “Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). But God’s principle is always seen in its opposite expression. To be strong, you must yield. To get, you must give. Christ died that you might live.
Jesus, the world thinks that Your crucifixion was terrible, but I know that it was a triumph over the Evil One. They reject Your death as a defeat, but it was victory over sin. The world will reject Your crucifixion, but Your death led to my eternal life. Amen.
Many Jewish people were looking for the wrong kind of Messiah.
