This passage says that wisdom pre-existed the creation of the
world, and it was through wisdom all things were created. For this reason, in connection with John's
Gospel and Paul's epistles, particularly Colossians and Ephesians, where Jesus
is both pre-existent and through Him all things were made, we speak of Jesus as
the personification of the wisdom of God.
In 1 Corinthians Paul speaks of Jesus as both the power and wisdom of
God. Hence, following wisdom and following
Jesus are one and the same. If we would
know the wisdom of God we would know Christ.
It was the Word of God spoken that brought the world into being and the
Word of God in Christ that reveals to us what we are to be as the image bearers
of God. These words, "whoever finds
me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord…" aligns with Jesus'
statements that whoever believes in Him has life.
These Greeks were likely proselytes, those who were making a
commitment to Judaism, had come to believe that Yahweh was the God not only of the
Jews but of all men. They had not taken the
final step of circumcision in their journey but they had come to Jerusalem for
Passover and now came seeking Jesus. At their
overture Jesus says that His time had finally come. Remember that yesterday's Gospel lesson ended
with the words of the Pharisees that all the world was going out to Him. Now we see that as true, all manner of men
were being drawn to Him and so the time had come for Him to be glorified. Who could have imagined what that was going
to entail? The disciples likely had
something different in mind when they heard this exclamation. A cross, are you kidding me?
Following the wisdom of God and the power of God, the wisdom
and power given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began, Paul says, is how
he became a prisoner of the world. It seems
a confusing paradox that Paul exhorts his young charge Timothy to a life of
power, love and self-control and yet he, Paul, is a Roman prisoner. The resolution of the paradox is to realize
that this world is in utter rebellion to God and that in seeking favor with Him
and to live by His wisdom and purpose is to find ourselves out of step and out
of favor with the world. Through Isaiah
we hear Him say that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our
ways. Through the cross we have
confirmation of that truth and yet we too often live by worldly wisdom seeking
worldly things. If we seek the kingdom
we will have the wisdom necessary to have it but it may be costly in this
life.
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