The Centrality of the Cross

Transcript of the segment on How the Cross Explains You:

The third piece of how the cross helps us understand the world, I think, is more personal and direct. The cross of Jesus is not only the centerpiece of history, and the great historical divide, it is especially the great heart divide. The great heart divide. We see that in verses 19 to 23 where Paul goes after that. The cross is meant to be the most ‘in your face’ event for every individual to look upon. The cross is after you. It’s not after concepts and arguments and debates. The cross is about your heart. If you really look at the cross, it is going to look at you. It’s going to divide your heart. If you really look at it and think about it, this cross is as much about you as it is about the God who made you. This cross is to help you understand who you really are and what you really need. The first thing that Paul says it does is to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah. Look again at verse 19. What does this cross do? “It is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” The wisdom, the power of the cross destroys the wisdom of the world. As one commentator said, ‘At the crucifixion, he has brought an end to human self-sufficiency.’