Easter - God’s Wisdom on Display
When Easter is spoken of, God’s power is most often discussed and remembered. That is appropriate and fair, but Easter is also God’s ultimate repudiation of the world’s wisdom. If you were to gather together the world’s finest thinkers, in this group would be politicians, business leaders, philosophers, academics, and strategists. Bring them together and pose the following scenario: I have a goal. My ultimate goal is to be the most influential and famous person who ever lived. I want powerful civilizations and dynamic cultures to be built on my ideas and values. I want to be at the center of billions of lives. How would I achieve this? I’m sure that such a gathering of exceptional people would have a hard time agreeing on an answer. Whatever they suggested, however, could not parallel the epic drama that is found in Scripture, the story of Jesus.
The Gospels tell the story of Jesus, a man who was born in obscurity and never traveled outside the backwater country of Israel. They speak of a man who refused to get involved with politics or align himself with the power-brokers of his day. Jesus never left behind writings. He was killed in his thirties. His death was an unceremonious public execution. The “know-it-alls” of his day thought they had effectively neutralized Jesus and his radical teachings. When we examine the teachings of Jesus, would they align with what exceptional "worldly wisdom" suggests? No, in contrast to the world’s wisdom of “get more stuff,” Jesus advised his followers to give their “stuff” away and serve others. How would our strategists deal with Jesus’ teaching to forgive others and put oneself last? Most importantly, Jesus would differ with those who proclaim that YOU are the center of the universe.
To the laughable concept that you will find meaning in life when you find yourself, Jesus would say, “Lose yourself.” To a world that preaches that seeking God is old-fashioned, Jesus insists that a pursuit of God is truly where life, truth, and meaning come from. Perhaps the greatest difference between Jesus and the exceptional "wisdom" of this world is how Jesus lived his life. He did not arrive saying, “I am powerful and brilliant. Get yourself together, try harder, do more good deeds and be like me.” Rather, Jesus came and gave his life for mankind. He willingly exchanged places with lost men and women. Yes, Jesus lived the perfect life. He gave his life as a sacrifice and took humanity’s punishment on himself. Jesus came and lived a life we all should have lived. Then he died a death we all should have died.
This is why the Easter story is such a powerful display of God’s wisdom. God’s plan is something that people would never have thought up. The Easter story is good for everybody. It speaks of a transforming power that helps all people, bridges all gaps, transcends all time and cultures. The message of Easter speaks of help for all people. It is not just for the moral, the strong, the brilliant. It does not matter who you are or what you have done.
From a worldly perspective, Jesus’ death on the cross was a complete failure. Jesus’ enemies thought they were victorious. How could Jesus help anyone as he hung on the cross? Remember, God’s wisdom differs from this world’s wisdom. Jesus did not arrive as a great philosopher. He was not a military general set on spilling blood. Jesus spilt his own blood saving mankind. He came and told us that God loves us and desires to have fellowship with us. This message was unheard of; it was unexpected, but it was what mankind desperately needed to hear. What about you and me today? What wisdom are you following? Are you willing to embrace God’s wisdom? Keep looking up!