The Divine Mystery and Glory of the Cross
Summary
In reflecting on the profound mystery of the cross, we are reminded that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is not merely a historical event but a divine revelation that divides humanity into two distinct groups: those who perceive its true significance and those who do not. The Apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, emphasizes that the wisdom of God is hidden in the cross, a mystery that eludes human understanding and wisdom. This mystery is not accessible through human intellect or effort but is revealed by the Holy Spirit. The cross, therefore, is not just a symbol of suffering and death but a profound revelation of God's wisdom and glory.
The cross challenges our perceptions, revealing that what appears to be weakness and failure is, in fact, the ultimate display of divine power and wisdom. The Lord of Glory, crucified in apparent weakness, is the very essence of God's redemptive plan, ordained before the foundation of the world. This divine wisdom reconciles God's justice and love, offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe. The cross is a testament to God's eternal plan, a plan that was not an afterthought but a predetermined counsel of God, showcasing His wisdom and glory.
As believers, we are called to survey the cross continually, allowing its mystery and glory to transform our understanding and our lives. The cross is not just a point of historical interest but the central theme of our faith, revealing the glory of Christ, the wisdom of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is through the cross that we find our true glory, as we are reconciled to God and adopted into His family. The cross is our only boast, our only glory, as it reveals the depth of God's love and the promise of eternal life.
Key Takeaways:
1. The cross of Christ divides humanity into those who understand its significance and those who do not. This division is due to the hidden wisdom of God, which is revealed only through the Holy Spirit. The cross is not merely a historical event but a divine mystery that requires spiritual discernment. [02:18]
2. Human wisdom and understanding are insufficient to grasp the mystery of the cross. The wisdom of this world is limited and ever-changing, while the wisdom of God, revealed in the cross, is eternal and unchanging. It is only through divine revelation that we can truly understand the significance of the cross. [06:11]
3. The cross reveals the paradox of divine power in apparent weakness. Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was crucified in weakness, yet this act was the ultimate display of God's power and wisdom. The cross is a testament to God's eternal plan, showcasing His ability to reconcile justice and love. [16:08]
4. The crucifixion was not merely the result of human actions but the fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Before the foundation of the world, God ordained the cross as the means of redemption, demonstrating His wisdom and glory. This plan was not an afterthought but the central theme of God's redemptive work. [30:22]
5. The cross is the source of our glory and hope. Through the cross, we are forgiven, reconciled to God, and adopted into His family. It is our only boast, as it reveals the depth of God's love and the promise of eternal life. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but the ultimate revelation of God's glory. [37:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Mystery of the Cross
- [01:06] - The Cross Divides Humanity
- [02:53] - The Hidden Wisdom of God
- [04:15] - The Mystery of the Cross
- [05:39] - Human Wisdom vs. Divine Revelation
- [07:59] - Revelation Through the Holy Spirit
- [09:11] - The Glory of the Cross
- [12:09] - The Mystery of the Crucified One
- [15:35] - The Lord of Glory
- [18:34] - The Mystery of the Crucifiers
- [21:25] - The Folly of Human Wisdom
- [27:38] - The True Meaning of the Cross
- [30:22] - God's Eternal Plan
- [35:32] - Our Glory in the Cross
- [41:54] - Conclusion and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Mystery of the Cross
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 2:8, why did the "princes of this world" fail to recognize the significance of the crucifixion of Jesus? [00:25]
2. How does the Apostle Paul describe the wisdom of God in relation to the cross in 1 Corinthians 2:7? [00:44]
3. What does the sermon suggest is the reason the cross divides humanity into two groups? [02:18]
4. In the sermon, what is said about the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing the mystery of the cross? [07:59]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon mentions that human wisdom is insufficient to grasp the mystery of the cross. How does this challenge our reliance on intellect and reason in understanding spiritual truths? [06:11]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the paradox of divine power being displayed in apparent weakness through the crucifixion of Jesus? [16:08]
3. How does the sermon explain the predetermined plan of God in the crucifixion, and what does this reveal about God's sovereignty? [30:22]
4. In what ways does the sermon describe the cross as the ultimate revelation of God's glory and wisdom? [37:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal understanding of the cross. Do you find yourself in the group that sees its true significance, or do you struggle to grasp its mystery? How can you seek a deeper revelation through the Holy Spirit? [02:18]
2. The sermon emphasizes the hidden wisdom of God in the cross. How can you cultivate a mindset that values divine wisdom over human understanding in your daily life? [06:11]
3. Consider the paradox of divine power in weakness as demonstrated by the crucifixion. How can this perspective change the way you view your own weaknesses and challenges? [16:08]
4. The sermon speaks of God's eternal plan and predetermined counsel. How does this understanding of God's sovereignty impact your trust in His plans for your life? [30:22]
5. The cross is described as the source of our glory and hope. In what ways can you make the cross the central theme of your faith and daily living? [37:09]
6. How can you actively survey the cross in your spiritual journey, allowing its mystery and glory to transform your understanding and life? [10:13]
7. The sermon concludes with a call to glory in the cross alone. What practical steps can you take to ensure that the cross remains your only boast and source of glory? [40:27]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cross as a Divine Mystery
The cross of Christ is a profound mystery that divides humanity into those who understand its significance and those who do not. This division is due to the hidden wisdom of God, which is revealed only through the Holy Spirit. The cross is not merely a historical event but a divine mystery that requires spiritual discernment. It challenges human wisdom and understanding, which are insufficient to grasp its true meaning. The wisdom of this world is limited and ever-changing, while the wisdom of God, revealed in the cross, is eternal and unchanging. It is only through divine revelation that one can truly understand the significance of the cross. [02:18]
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (ESV): "But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to deepen your understanding of the cross today?
Day 2: Divine Wisdom vs. Human Understanding
Human wisdom and understanding are insufficient to grasp the mystery of the cross. The wisdom of this world is limited and ever-changing, while the wisdom of God, revealed in the cross, is eternal and unchanging. It is only through divine revelation that we can truly understand the significance of the cross. The cross challenges our perceptions, revealing that what appears to be weakness and failure is, in fact, the ultimate display of divine power and wisdom. Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was crucified in weakness, yet this act was the ultimate display of God's power and wisdom. [06:11]
1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV): "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you rely on your own understanding. How can you invite God's wisdom into this area today?
Day 3: The Paradox of Divine Power
The cross reveals the paradox of divine power in apparent weakness. Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was crucified in weakness, yet this act was the ultimate display of God's power and wisdom. The cross is a testament to God's eternal plan, showcasing His ability to reconcile justice and love. The crucifixion was not merely the result of human actions but the fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Before the foundation of the world, God ordained the cross as the means of redemption, demonstrating His wisdom and glory. [16:08]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: How can you embrace your weaknesses today, allowing God's power to be displayed through them?
Day 4: God's Eternal Plan
The crucifixion was not merely the result of human actions but the fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Before the foundation of the world, God ordained the cross as the means of redemption, demonstrating His wisdom and glory. This plan was not an afterthought but the central theme of God's redemptive work. The cross is the source of our glory and hope. Through the cross, we are forgiven, reconciled to God, and adopted into His family. It is our only boast, as it reveals the depth of God's love and the promise of eternal life. [30:22]
Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."
Reflection: Reflect on how God's eternal plan has unfolded in your life. How can you align your daily actions with His redemptive purpose?
Day 5: Our Glory in the Cross
The cross is the source of our glory and hope. Through the cross, we are forgiven, reconciled to God, and adopted into His family. It is our only boast, as it reveals the depth of God's love and the promise of eternal life. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but the ultimate revelation of God's glory. As believers, we are called to survey the cross continually, allowing its mystery and glory to transform our understanding and our lives. [37:09]
Galatians 6:14 (ESV): "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
Reflection: What does it mean for you to boast in the cross today? How can you live out this truth in your interactions with others?
Quotes
We are met together this morning in order that we may look together at and consider the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross on Calvary's Hill, and I propose to do that with you this morning in terms of these words which I've just read to you out of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. [00:25:52]
The Apostle at once gives us the answer to that question, and the answer is that there is an element of mystery in it. We speak, he says, the wisdom of God in a mystery. It's a hidden wisdom, and that is why the cross divides people into these two groups. [00:19:00]
There is of necessity, according to this statement of the Apostle, a hidden element in the cross. In other words, as you stand and look at the cross, you have to start by realizing that it isn't simply what it appears to be. There is a man dying upon a tree. [00:45:52]
The World by wisdom knew not God. They were trying to find God, but they couldn't. Wisdom means human ability, human understanding, philosophy, thought, meditation, an attempt to discover and to arrive at the truth. But here the Apostle reminds us that this hidden element in the cross, this mystery that's at the very heart and center of the Cross, is something that a man can never arrive at just by searching and investigation. [00:56:48]
The first thing is that we find that the cross turns out to be something almost exactly opposite of what we'd always thought. We look at it again, and we see it with new eyes, and we not only see something that we've never seen before, we see something that amazes us and astounds us. [00:53:04]
The Lord Of Glory, crucified. The Creator and sustainer of the universe, the one in whom and by whom all things consist, expiring and dying. Ah, this is a mystery, My Friends. By looking at him, you can't see him veiled in flesh, the godhead. [01:01:28]
The wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our Glory. What was happening on the cross? Men putting the Son of God to death, of course, I agree that's a fact, that's history. But my friend, haven't you seen what's at the back of it? [00:48:08]
The cross is not an afterthought. There are men who comment on the Bible and say, and there's a very popular Bible that says this, that God sent his son into this world to establish his kingdom, but because he was not received by the Jews, this other thing came in as an afterthought. What a lie, what a denial of the scriptures. [00:51:36]
The wisdom of God in a mystery, God reconciling his own Justice and his own love, God bringing together his righteousness and his mercy, and he did it by laying on on him the iniquity of us all. He solved it. He's taken him, his only son, and he's taken my sins and put them upon him. [00:58:56]
The wisdom of God and the power of God, thus having dealt with sin and having punished it, God, I say, can look upon us and smile upon us and receive us and forgive us and bless us and adopt us into his family. The wisdom of God, the Eternal problem solved. [01:00:40]
The Son of God came down and went to the Cross, humbled himself. Why? That we might be exalted. He laid aside his glory. Why? That he might give us something of his own Glory. He did it all unto our Glory. Well, there it is. Have you seen it? [01:03:48]
The glory of the Holy Spirit, the spirit who enabled him while he was here in the days of his flesh to live and to work Miracles and to endure the strain, the eternal spirit through whom he died, gave himself, the spirit that was actively raising him from the grave. [01:05:20]
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