By Luke Sills
Every Easter Sunday, believers around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But while the empty tomb is central to our faith, we cannot truly understand Easter without first understanding the cross. Why did Jesus have to die on a cross? Why that specific, brutal form of execution? And what does it mean for both believers and those who have not yet placed their trust in Him?
The Apostle Paul answers these questions in 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5, reminding us that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Let’s consider five truths about why the cross is essential to the Christian faith.
1. The Cross Destroys the Wisdom of the World
The city of Corinth was filled with people who prided themselves on knowledge, debate, and philosophy. They were convinced that true life and purpose could be found through human wisdom. Our culture is much the same—we often believe we’ve advanced beyond the “old-fashioned” message of the cross.
But Paul confronts that mindset, asking, “Where is the one who is wise? … Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20). In God’s design, the cross shatters human pride. Salvation did not come through philosophical reasoning, political power, or military might—it came through the suffering and death of God’s Son.
To the Jews, the cross was a stumbling block; to the Greeks, it was foolishness. Yet, for those who believe, it is the wisdom and power of God.
2. The Cross Is for the Lowly
Paul reminds the Corinthians that not many of them were wise, powerful, or of noble birth when they were called by God. In His wisdom, God chooses what the world sees as foolish, weak, and insignificant to shame the proud and powerful.
The cross turns the world’s value system upside down. It’s not about prestige or human achievement. It’s about humility and dependence on God. Those who come to the cross know they have nothing to boast about except Christ Himself.
3. The Cross Shows We Cannot Save Ourselves
Romans 5:12–21 explains that through Adam’s sin, death entered the world—and through Christ’s sacrifice, life is offered to all who believe. We are not “basically good people” who just need a little help; we are sinners who need radical redemption.
If we could save ourselves, the cross would be unnecessary. But the fact that Jesus died in our place—bearing the wrath of God we deserved—proves we cannot earn salvation through our own wisdom, strength, or morality. The cross is our only hope.
4. The Cross Is Where True Wisdom and Power Are Found
Paul didn’t rely on eloquent speech or clever arguments when he preached; he proclaimed “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The gospel is not just helpful advice—it is the life-changing power of God.
The cross is the centerpiece of Christianity. Without it, the resurrection would have no meaning. Through it, God’s wisdom and power are displayed for all to see.
5. The Events After the Cross Are Not Without Witness
The resurrection of Jesus was not a secret event. Paul records in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 that Jesus appeared to Peter, the twelve apostles, more than 500 others, James, and finally to Paul himself. Many of these witnesses were still alive when Paul wrote, making it possible to verify their testimony.
Former atheist and White House counsel Chuck Colson once said:
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me… 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead… they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it… Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
The resurrection confirms the truth of the cross—and the cross confirms the depth of God’s love.
Conclusion
The cross may appear foolish to those who do not believe, but for those who have experienced its power, it is the very wisdom of God. It destroys human pride, calls the lowly, reveals our inability to save ourselves, and shows us where true power lies. And through the eyewitness testimony of the resurrection, we know that what happened there changes everything.
The question remains: Do you believe? Do you trust that Jesus’ death and resurrection have the power to save you? For those who do, the cross is not a symbol of defeat—it is the ultimate sign of victory.
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31
