Holding High The Cross

Holding High The Cross

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14

Paul is saying here, “I am foolish, a sinner, and weak. I boast in my suffering. I brag that I am without the law, without works, without the righteousness that comes from the law, and finally, without anything except Christ. I want it to be this way. I am happy that I am viewed as unwise, evil, and guilty of all crimes.” As Paul says to the Corinthians, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). For the cross of Christ has condemned everything that the world calls good, including wisdom and righteousness. As Scripture says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate” (1 Corinthians 1:19). Christ says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11). So this means not only being crucified with Christ and sharing in his cross and suffering, but also boasting about it and going along joyfully with the apostles, who were considered worthy of suffering disgrace for speaking about Jesus (Acts 5:41).

But some seek honor, riches, and pleasure for the name of Jesus and flee contempt, poverty, and suffering. Do they boast about the cross of Christ? No. Rather, they glory in the world while using the name of Christ for appearances. They end up making a mockery of it.