How did Jews and Greeks respond to the preaching of Christ crucified?
To the Jews it was a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness, especially with their high-level intellectual philosophy. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Les teaches that the preaching of the Cross is not just a ticket to Heaven; to us who are saved it is the power of God. He points to verse 23, where Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks with all their high-level intellectual philosophy. They were to believe that this humble carpenter from Nazareth accomplished foolishness. But unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Les emphasizes the difference: this is a power man cannot even begin to touch, extraneous to anything human. It flies in the face of Reformers and good-works people who insist we must earn our way into Heaven, but there is nothing we can do but take what God has offered.
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
More Questions
How did Paul try to reach the Jews and the Greeks?
Paul did not perform signs to convince the Jew and did not use philosophy to convince the Greek; instead he preached Christ and Him crucified.