The epistle for Epiphany 4 is 1 Cor 1.18—31 (the end of the chapter). Having painted the picture of the amazing things that God has done for the Corinthians in the first verses, Paul has then confronted them with their factions. He now draws on language that echoes the teaching of Jesus, and deep from the Old Testament, to set out the paradoxical nature of God’s wisdom and power in the foolishness and weakness of the cross.
In doing so, he challenges every human aspiration to success and knowledge of God without the centrality of what God has done in the cross of Christ.
The gospel reading for Epiphany 4 is John 2.1–11, the water into wine at the wedding in Cana (also the reading for Epiphany 3 in Year C). The written commentary for that is here.
and the video discussion is here.
The gospel reading for the Presentation of Christ is Luke 2.22–40. The written commentary for this passage is here.
and the video discussion is here.
Buy me a Coffee
I did enjoy some of James’s comments on this chapter
A great opportunity to preach on The Cross
Perhaps a good question to ask might be
“What has the Cross ever done for you”?
If the answer returned is simply an oft repeated
Creedal statement, then only a belief statement.
However if the reply was along the lines
of “ I was unmanned, shattered, slain never again to rise, a man of Sin dead and buried.
Then the Cross has done its ’intended work.
This the road less travelled. And less preached.
I like Chrysostom’s take on this chapter
“But now we need no more reasonings, but faith alone.
For to believe on Him that was crucified and buried, and to be fully persuaded that this Person Himself both rose again
and sat down on high; this needeth not wisdom, nor reasonings,
but faith.
For the Apostles themselves came in not by wisdom, but by faith,
and surpassed the heathen wise men in wisdom and loftiness,
and that so much the more, as to raise disputings is less than to receive by faith the things of God. For this transcends all human understanding.
1 Corinthians 1 Homilies of Chrysostom @ Biblehub
Though a creedal statement be true it is not
a lived experience, not a work of Mercy or Grace.
One has not begun on the narrow way,
the way of the Cross, a people of The Way. Shalom.
There are many Christianities many
Wisdoms, Jewish Greek Latin Chinese etc.
There are many Crosses carried.
Take up your cross and Follow me says Jesus.
Which cross, which wisdom? God’s Wisdom?
The Apostles Cross will get you flogged,
stoned, imprisoned, hung, drawn and quartered.
Banished from religious society, Exiled.
Can we be contented with that cross.
What say the saints on the Way?
Richard Wurmbrand
It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us—so everyone was happy.
JC Ryle
There is a common worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough.
This cheap Christianity … offends nobody, requires no sacrifice, costs nothing, and is worth nothing!
CT Studd concludes that through this Cross
We will have the real Holiness of God, not the sickly stuff of talk and dainty words and pretty thoughts; we will have a Masculine
Holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ.
A frightened world needs a fearless church. A.W.Tozer
Shalom.
Thanks for this.
Again the presumably auto-generated subtitles provide some amusement. My favourite this time was when James used the bagatelle, which became “bag of hell”. Also, Paul’s reference to μωρία became “Moriah”. Did Tolkien get the name from the Greek word?
Well, I do scan through the transcript and pick up most things. But fun to let a couple through…