1 Corinthians 1:18-21;25 — March 3, 2024; Third Sunday in Lent
“For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.” – 1 Corinthians 1:25
Years ago, I heard a minister describe the gospel as a scandal. “The scandal of the gospel” they called it. At that time, I had no idea what they meant. In fact, I imagined to some in the pews it could feel something like a cheap shot, as if the minister was suggesting that somehow God was gaming the system.
But recently I have come to believe that is partly true. For God has indeed been gaming the system, but not that it was ever cheap. For you see, God’s scandalous rewriting of the algorithm, and the codes that determine our lives, cost a price to God so large it was unfathomable.
The death of a son.
But that’s what happened. For when Jesus was ordained as the Christ, he was set on a path towards the cross. Where he would be betrayed, denied, mocked, and ultimately crucified. But it was there on that cross, that God’s scandal played out. That in the death of a son, death was forever defeated.
And more, that life was forever granted, even to all of us who had done nothing to ever earn it.
Such that even the most foolish among us, the lowest among us, the most slow, unamused, and even cross among us, could yet be loved, and receive mercy and grace, and thus be saved.
And that my friends, is how God gamed the system. The system of this world where we are told we have to be somebody to be somebody. That the measuring stick of success is how much we are exalted and elevated above others. And to all of that, God said, nah… that algorithm of human wisdom doesn’t play for me. No, it’s instead by how much you serve, and by how much you humble yourselves before others, that the code of life will be rewritten to your benefit.
And as great as that is (for it is great), God took it even one step further, and made it even that much more scandalous. Saying that even the most wretched among us, the ones who never wanted to serve or humble ourselves at all, if ever… that even they – that even we– would be welcomed right here at this table… that even we who do not deserve it will be afforded another chance, upon another chance, upon another chance, to get it right.
Forgiveness upon forgiveness; foolishness over foolishness; grace above all else. Grace to the end.
And so, my friends, this foolishness, God’s foolishness, is also our hope. Our trust and our hope that no matter who we’ve been; that no matter what we’ve done; that we are all welcome here at this table. For Christ broke bread and poured wine for us all, even the Judas’ here around us who have betrayed him; even the Peters here among us who have denied him.
So today we embrace this wonderful, divine foolishness. This scandal of the gospel. Where are all welcomed because all have been saved. By amazing grace and transformative love.
Amen
