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18 For 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. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

The topic of salvation brings out what is deep in our mind. Often, when one needs “to be saved”, one will turn to what he/she can control or what the community that he/she is in thinks is(are) the best way(s). It is best because it is the most acceptable solution experienced by their community, but it may not be truly the best solution at all. In this passage we can see the following examples—Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom. What they seek is the most accepted experience of salvation in their communities. The history of the Jews is about being saved by God’s signs, and the epic of the Greeks is about Odysseus’ legendary return using his wisdom.

Yet, Paul quotes the book of Isaiah to demonstrate God’s responds, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” God chose a subversive way for salvation, and His way is totally different from the salvation experience of all the peoples. He sent His only son Jesus to our world to die for us but then He resurrected from death. This is the way He sent the good news of salvation to the world, so that we know we are saved not by our understanding about salvation, but by our trust in Him that differs from all human experience, He died but He rose again. Thus, faith means a change in what we already know as salvation based on our own experience, to just simply accepting the way of the cross as the way to salvation.

Our need to “be saved” is never more evident than now. Have we ever asked ourselves what our understanding of salvation is deep down? We search for the most reliable news about the pandemic daily to see what is happening, and to find out any new decisions made by the government. If we pay such attention to our bodily life, how much more attention should we pay to our spiritual life? If we depend on authorities during the days in crisis, we should depend more on God’s help every day for our spiritual life, for “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” God’s power and wisdom are sufficient for us all!