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Christ Crucified…the Power & Wisdom of God

by Rev. Patrick O’Neal

Early in the morning on June 13, I was anxiously driving through the morning traffic across Kingston to New Providence primary school. When I arrived at the school, the students were already assembled, and when the Principal saw me she invited me to come forward to lead the devotion. I was glad that I’d found the school and made it in time, because it gave me an opportunity to share a great passage of Scripture with the students.

In 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, St Paul writes, Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

After I read this passage, I held up a piece of paper and asked if they students thought I could cut an opening large enough to go through. A few thought so. I then cut the paper in half and asked again. Then I cut the paper in half again. With just ¼ sheet of paper left, no one thought that it was possible to cut an opening for one of their classmates to go through.

I then began cutting in a special way that makes it possible for even me to fit through the opening. The students were amazed! I told them that the reason they were amazed is that they lacked the wisdom I had on how to cut that paper. But now they knew it was possible, so they had the necessary wisdom to know that it could be done.

There are so many things that happen in the lives of these students in Jamaica that may make them feel like there is no way they can get through even another day. Poverty leaves them with little food. Lack of work and future opportunities can leave them with little hope. And hearing from many churches how they have to perfectly obey God in order to be saved, leaves them burdened.

But we bring a different message. “We preach Christ crucified…the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Our Heavenly Father knew that we could never fulfill His Law perfectly, so he sent His Son. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law and then was crucified in our place. His death paid for our sins, and His perfect obedience to God’s Law is credited to us. This is foolishness to the world, but it is the wisdom of God and the power of God to those who believe.

Lutheran Ministries in Jamaica continues to proclaim Christ crucified. Through our Sunday morning worship services, Sunday school, youth and adult Bible classes, Youth group, Kids in Christ club, Men’s and Women’s Fellowships, social ministry, medical clinic outreach, school devotions, Lutheran Hour Media Ministries, and Vacation Bible Schools we are reaching people with the “foolish” message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

We thank you for you ongoing support and prayer for our ministry. Please take a look at the specific prayer requests that we have listed in this newsletter and lift them to the Lord. Our property and office space continue to be concerns. VBS teams are coming in August and have the opportunity to share Christ crucified with many children (and families by extension). Join with us in being a missionary, wherever you are, and proclaim Christ crucified…the power and wisdom of God. For it is only through this Gospel that hearts will be set Ablaze! (photos are of ministry with public school children)