Luke 10:21-24 | I Corinthians 1:18-25
The topic of divine wisdom is underrated and too often neglected. Wisdom is deeply embedded in the scriptures in particular ways. The Hebrew wisdom literature (books like Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Job, etc.) is quoted as proof-texts sometimes, but the overall sweep of wisdom isn’t always grasped too well.
Jesus characterizes the wisdom and knowledge of God the Father in a particular way (in a way the Apostle Paul continues in his writings).
The notion is that the wisdom of God is vastly different than what is considered wisdom by humanity. In the time Jesus walked the earth, Greco-Roman philosophy was the top shelf of human wisdom. It’s accessible only by those who are educated and have the privilege of time to ruminate and pontificate about perceived truth.
But Jesus…Jesus is clear that what is truth, knowledge, and the goodness therein is first for those who would otherwise have no access. Remember who the disciples are (were). They were not the most educated of rabbinical students or Greek philosophers. They were workers, common folk.
Humans are capable of great knowledge. This is not bad. God created us this way. But in the Kingdom of God, it does not hold the same lofty placement as within human society.
This is good news.
Luke 10:21-24
At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Happy are the eyes that see what you see. I assure you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.”
I Corinthians 1:18-25
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved. It is written in scripture: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the intelligence of the intelligent. Where are the wise? Where are the legal experts? Where are today’s debaters? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish? In God’s wisdom, he determined that the world wouldn’t come to know him through its wisdom. Instead, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching. Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, which is a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. This is because the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Prayer
God,
Do you ever laugh at what humans hold up as best? I mean, you’ve watched things such as fashion - the clothes we wear and what we do to our bodies - you’ve been present for every iteration of the ridiculousness of it all. Surely you laugh.
Or maybe you watch us as a parent does the five year old who has just discovered colors or decorations or clothing. We can do some pretty cute things.
But surely you no longer laugh when we use these things to separate people into different groups and classes. So much human pain has come from how we treat each other in our differences, even in such trivial matters as clothing and fashion.
…and education. Thank you, God, for education and the growth of knowledge, the access one has to what is good to know and behold. Yet, we have used knowledge - or the attainment thereof - as yet another way to imply to people who is in and who is out.
So help me, God, to not do this. Give me your eyes for people.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.