Why should preachers stop focusing only on Jesus' earthly ministry and miracles?
The reason is Paul's statement that because of the work of the cross—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—henceforth we know no man after the flesh. Preaching should center on the ascended Christ, not merely His earthly ministry, miracles, signs, and wonders.
Les teaches that Paul's words in verse 16 are the key: Wherefore, because of the work of the cross, his death, burial, and resurrection, wherefore henceforth we know no man after the flesh. Les explains that much preaching today is about Jesus in His earthly ministry, His miracles, signs, and wonders, Sunday after Sunday. But Paul says we are not following any man in the flesh; we are to take Christ after the work of the cross, after His death, burial, and resurrection, now ascended in glory. Les grants it is the same man and the same God, but the Christ before the cross was not the object of our salvation that He is after the cross, because it is the work of the cross that makes our salvation possible. Paul lived contemporary with Him, yet now from His death, burial, and resurrection, we do not look back and know Him in His earthly ministry as such.
More Questions
Why shouldn't we only preach about Jesus' earthly ministry, miracles, signs, and wonders?
A lot of today's preaching presents only Jesus in His earthly ministry—His miracles, signs, and wonders—but Paul says that believers are not following any man in the flesh and are not to preach that kind of flesh-based Christ.