We all follow some things or someone, and usually both. If you ask the average person who they are following, they will probably think of those they follow on social media. I follow several athletes who use the emblem of the cross as their identity. They make it clear in their interviews, their markings on their faces, and on the field, that they are following the cross of Jesus. I am sure that, given their social media presence, they face some ridicule for their stance for Christ. In I Corinthians 1, there was division in the church over whom they were following. The church in Corinth was a mess of division. Believers were breaking off into rival cliques, arguing over which superstar preacher they followed—some claimed Paul, some Apollos, others Peter. They were treating the Gospel like a trendy philosophy and spiritual leaders like celebrity influencers. Paul begs them in I Corinthians 1:10-16, to stop making their worship about people and making it more about Jesus.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.” Paul writes to snap them out of it by pointing them back to the equalizer: the cross of Jesus Christ.
In the ancient world, the cross was a symbol of shame, weakness, and defeat. To the genius philosophers and power-hungry rulers of the day, the idea that the Creator of the universe would rescue humanity by dying on a Roman cross was ridiculous and defied all human logic. In verses 18-19, Paul flips the script, explaining that human wisdom can never rationalize or justify itself to God. The method God has for us to gain Heaven goes against all human logic. God deliberately chose what the world considers as “foolishness” and “weakness.” This turns our pride upside down; nothing we can do on our own can gain eternal life with God.
I Corinthians 1:18-19 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
In the church at Corinth, they were holding those in high esteem who had intelligence or status. This will always lead to division in the church, just as it did in Corinth. The cross leaves no room for boasting. We must all come to Jesus the same way. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. We all need grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Through no merit of our own can we gain eternal life. As we see in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We must all equally be broken and spiritually bankrupt, relying totally on what Jesus did, not what we did.
Today, it is incredibly easy to get swept up in the world’s version of wisdom—chasing status, picking sides in endless debates, and defining our worth by who or what we follow. Now it is time for evaluation. Where are you placing your trust? Is it in your own strength and mental intelligence to solve your problems or to gain eternal life? Are you following certain groups of people or preachers at church? Are you allowing divisions or cliques to influence how you live your life?
Let’s trade the exhausting pursuit of human perfection for the quiet, upside-down power of the cross. True wisdom starts with humility. May God forgive us for relying on our own understanding and seeking the approval of this world.
Follow the simple, life-changing power of the cross. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any division or pride within you. Help us all to boast only in you. Help us see people through your eyes of love, mercy, and grace.
