We have three separate studies going on in our household – our small group is studying the Sermon on the Mount and we’re just finishing up the section on what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. Denise is beginning a study in Hebrews in a week for the ladies at Faith, and I am embroiled in a study of Ecclesiastes with the men of Faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we were closing our small group in prayer last night, modeling Jesus’ prayer in glorifying His name, Denise was praising God for the supremacy of Jesus Christ, which is the theme of the book of Hebrews. Jesus is superior – He is superior to the angels, He is superior to Moses, He is superior to human priests –\u00a0 He is the great High Priest, He is the High Priest of a greater covenant, His sacrifice was a superior sacrifice, bringing to an end all other sacrifices.<\/p>\n
What a stunning contrast to the supposed wisdom of “the Preacher” in Ecclesiastes. Where Jesus Christ is superior in every respect, the wisdom of man under the sun is so decidedly inferior as to be called futile, chasing after the wind. The Preacher, probably Solomon, showed the futility of all human thinking and experience under the sun, apart from God. Whether it be wisdom, accomplishments, self-indulgent pleasure, materialism, even work, all is futile, meaningless.<\/p>\n
Isn’t it wonderful to know that this world’s wisdom is nothing but futility in the light of Jesus Christ? Our wisdom, all our accomplishments, all pale before the message of Christ crucified. Paul said it so well in his letter to the church in Corinth.<\/p>\n
\n“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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