1 CORINTHIANS 1:23-24

...but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

TO PONDER:

"That...the cross...it scares me." His face covered with a moko (facial tattoo), Taffy cast a formidable presence as he stood at the back of the Church and pointed to the cross up above the altar. Taffy had gone into the shop across the road to buy a packet of cigarettes and when he came out, he said, "my feet just walked me across the road and into the Church.' As imposing as he was as a man, Taffy was frightened, exposed, and rendered impotent when face to face with the cross of Jesus Christ. Having just been released from jail for assault, and knowing that there were others in the community out for revenge,Taffy was sick of looking over his shoulder and the constant worry about the safety of his family. Face to face with Jesus and his powerful love, demonstrated in the self-giving sacrifice of his life to give freedom and peace and life, Taffy knew that the cross was calling him to a different life, a new life. For a moment, he got it. For as we walked to my car following the service to go to the second service in town, I came face to face with a knife that he pulled from somewhere, in front of his body. "After hearing what you said, I don't think I need this anymore - what should I do with it?" It went into the boot of my car...

Christ crucified was calling him. Offering him to give him more power than he had ever experienced. The power of love, the power of forgiveness, the power of acceptance...the power to live. But it necessitated him giving up all those things that he held on to for security, for worth, for identity; things that were powerless in the face of such grace. The cross was the answer to the struggles he faced...it was also a stumbling block which he couldn't get over...for two weeks later as a Detective questioned me for three hours over the knife in the back of my car, I wept internally that Taffy had chosen the old life and done something with another =knife, that ultimately placed him back in jail for life. Christ crucified offered him more...Christ crucified showed him another way...Christ crucified exposed the emptiness of the life he had chosen...but receiving it was just a step too far for him to take.

Christ crucified... the fullness of the power of God...for all of life. That's the good news we are called to receive today...and called to proclaim. For the cross is all we need.

PRAYER:

Thank you for the cross Lord, thank you for the price you paid, bearing all my sin and shame, in love you came, and gave amazing grace. Help me to proclaim it with my life, for I know it is the only means of life for all people. Amen.

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