I recently re-watched the debates between John Lennox and Richard Dawkins. Dawkins levelled a specific complaint against Lennox regarding the Christian faith. He described the essence of the message as “petty”. He contrasts the grandeur of the observable universe with the specific details of Christian theology regarding the cross. He cannot reconcile the Creator of the universe with a God who requires the incarnation and death of Himself for sin. The concept of blood atonement strikes him as small. It seems unworthy of a cosmic architect. My response to hearing this was simple. Precisely.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ reveals this exact irony as its central feature. The message does not suffer from weakness or lack of foresight. It operates on a completely different plane. God freely chose to manifest His strength in weakness (1 Cor. 1:25). He intentionally bypassed the mighty. He did not choose the Roman Emperor or the Greek philosopher to accomplish His will. He selected the weak to shame the strong. He intended to demonstrate His wisdom as superior to men’s wisdom. Human wisdom seeks power through domination. God’s wisdom reveals power through submission. He disregards human expectations to ensure that no flesh boasts in His presence (1 Cor. 1:29). This reversal prevents humanity from claiming credit for salvation. There is no way to ascend to God. We meet God by descending in humility as He did.

Paul exulted in this reality when writing to the Corinthians. He did not hide the scandal of the cross. The message was not a historic error for later redaction by embarrassed theologians. It served as the entire point of his ministry. Paul did not preach worldly wisdom to wise men or try to match their rhetorical skill. He rejected these things valued by his audience. He preached worldly foolishness to demonstrate God’s power. He resolved to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). This decision was deliberate in a culture that idolised intellect.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (1 Cor. 1:18, 21)

The cross presents an oxymoron to both the ancient and the modern mind. Christ means anointed or chosen. Crucifixion implies rejection by man and God. Paul refers to the Law when addressing this contradiction (Gal. 3:13). Deuteronomy states that God curses anyone hanging on a tree (Deut. 21:23). This curse includes the wood of the cross. A crucified Messiah represents a contradiction in terms. The Jews demanded signs of power to validate a king. The Greeks searched for philosophical wisdom to explain the cosmos. The cross failed both standards (1 Cor. 1:22). It offered a stumbling block instead of a sign. It offered foolishness instead of philosophy. The modern mind finds this equally offensive. It desires a deity who affirms human dignity without requiring such a bloody sacrifice. It labels the atonement as petty or barbaric. Both eras unite in their rejection of a God who redeems through shame and weakness.

This distinct characteristic of Christianity existed from the beginning. It did not arise as a later invention of the Church to explain a tragedy. The biblical authors embraced this reality as the fulfilment of ancient prophetic expectation. The Old Testament prophets predicted a Messiah who would arrive without earthly splendour. Isaiah wrote that He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him (Isa. 53:2). He stated that He would be despised and forsaken of men (Isa. 53:3). The Creator ordained this rejection before the foundation of the world. The cross stands as the intended method of redemption rather than a reaction to human hostility.

This reality forces a decision upon every hearer. You cannot remain neutral. You either look at the cross and see a criminal accursed of God or you see a Saviour accursed of God on our behalf. God did not delegate this task. He was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). The Second Person of the Trinity embraced our humanity to accomplish what humanity could not. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21). He exchanged His perfection for our guilt. He bore the full weight of the Law’s curse while upholding that very Law. He did this to secure redemption for anyone who accepts it. This act resolves the tension between mercy and justice. He stands as both Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26).

God’s participation in creation in the Person of Jesus Christ demonstrates His power more than a manifestation of maximal glory could. A display of raw force may compel external submission, but it does not secure internal transformation. The wilderness wanderings illustrate this failure. God manifested His glory to ensure Israel’s deliverance. He divided the sea before them. He led them by a pillar of fire (Exod. 13:21). These acts terrified their enemies. They did not change the Israelites. The people returned to their rebellious ways within days. They fashioned a golden calf at the base of the mountain where God spoke (Exod. 32:4). Power commanded their attention but not their affection. God used different means. He submitted to a humble upbringing in an occupied country. He bypassed the centres of political and intellectual power to dwell among the common people. He stood judged by His own creatures. The Lawgiver submitted to the verdict of the lawless. He allowed men to crucify Him. He overcame the power of sin and death through this submission rather than through force. The resurrection vindicates this path of weakness. It proves that the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor. 1:25).

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Phil. 2:5–7)

God deliberately selected the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1 Cor. 1:27). He chose the weak things to shame the strong. He entrusted His message to fishermen and tax collectors. These men lacked formal education (Acts 4:13). The world disregarded them but God empowered them. He selects the things that are not to nullify the things that are (1 Cor. 1:28). This strategy dismantles human pride. It removes any ground for self-congratulation. No intellect or strength can claim credit for salvation. This ensures that no man boasts before God (1 Cor. 1:29). The believer boasts only in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31). We stand in Christ Jesus alone, who became wisdom from God for us (1 Cor. 1:30).