“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:1, 14).

The Word, Jesus, is the eternal Son of God. The eternal Son of God entered time, born of a woman as a real flesh and blood human being. Jesus is the God-Man. The gospels bear clear testimony to the divinity of Jesus. And the gospels bear clear testimony to the genuineness of Jesus’ humanity. When the Jews and the Romans looked at Jesus, they saw a real human being. The accusation of the Jews was, “You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (Jn.10:33).  Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold the man.” (Jn.19:5). In Jn.8:40 Jesus described Himself as “a man who told you (the Jews) the truth.”   

That God would become a real flesh and blood man was completely unheard of. But that this God-Man would be crucified was an idea that bordered on blasphemy. Crucifixion was the most brutal and excruciating form of execution that was devised by the Persians and perfected by the Romans. Take note that the word “excruciating” comes from the word “crucis” (cross). It was also utterly degrading, despicable and humiliating. Despite the drawings you see, men and women were horribly abused, scourged, and then crucified stark naked.

In the time of Jesus, the cross was not a religious symbol to glory in. It was the symbol of the greatest shame known to men. The Jewish religious leaders demanded that Jesus be crucified because they believed that crucifixion would utterly destroy Jesus and whatever influence He had among the people. But then the absolute impossible happened and the preaching of the cross would become the heartbeat of the gospel of salvation in Jesus. The crucified, seemingly defeated Jesus, became, to their utter dismay and frustration, triumphant over them.

It is for this very reason of the cross Paul said in 1Cor.1:23 that the gospel is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. To the Jews, a crucified man was cursed of God.  To the Greeks, the gospel was moria (foolishness) and mania (madness). Paul was preaching to Jews and Gentiles the gospel of the crucified God who saves sinners. (cf. 1Cor.1:23; 2:2). The average modern reader does not understand how utterly and horribly distasteful and offensive the apostolic gospel message would have been for their listeners and readers.

Like Paul, John did not set out to please men with the preaching of the gospel. John’s intent was to obey and please God and preach the unvarnished truth of the gospel. In Gal.1:6-10 Paul dealt with those who were preaching a distorted, man-pleasing, ear-tickling gospel. The Holy Spirit, through the inspired writing of the apostle Paul, would pronounce a double anathema against those who were preaching a false gospel. In vs.10 Paul asked, “am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I still striving to please men?” Those who preach a “different” and “distorted” gospel do not truly understand the fearful nature of this double anathema.

Was Peter trying to please men when he preached in Acts 2? Was Peter trying to please men when he accused the Jews of murdering Jesus, their Messiah, by nailing Him to a cross by the hands of godless men? Was Peter trying to please men when he presented the Man from Nazareth as their Messiah and as the exalted Lord? Was Peter trying to please men when he said, “know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36). Were it not for the powerful working of the poured out Holy Spirit, Peter’s blunt in-your-face preaching could have easily started a riot on Jerusalem.

As Christians, we are required to preach the unvarnished and exclusivistic truth of the gospel, regardless of who is offended. We preach and it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and saves the sinner. The modern preacher needs to stop pretending he is the Holy Spirit and stop trying to do that which only the Holy Spirit can do – convict and save the sinner. Soli Deo Gloria.

Over the years of my life, I have heard many evangelistic preachers. And they usually begin their sermons with a light-hearted story or a joke. The intent is to relax the audience and, supposedly, put them in a mood to listen. Some would tell several jokes throughout the length of the sermon to prevent boredom in the listeners. On the other hand, the apostles were not story tellers nor tellers of jokes when preaching the gospel.

The apostle Paul commanded Timothy and every preacher, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, … preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” Preach the word! Preach it in the power and with the unction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it is the Holy Spirit, not you, who “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (Jn.16:8).