Paul begins his preaching to the Jews in Thessalonica by explaining the Cross. He followed the theme of the day, the Suffering Servant, in that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer. I don’t think he would argue that today. I think he would say that Jesus freely accepted the consequence of telling the Truth. Speaking truth to power cost him his life. He made us all aware of the cost of discipleship. It is the willingness to die for what we believe that is the Cross. It is the attitude in that death of unconditional forgiveness of our enemy that is the Cross. Jesus was the role model which Stephen followed and down through the ages Martin Luther King followed.
Paul begins his preaching to the Jews in Thessalonica by explaining the Cross. He followed the theme of the day, the Suffering Servant, in that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer. I don’t think he would argue that today. I think he would say that Jesus freely accepted the consequence of telling the Truth. Speaking truth to power cost him his life. He made us all aware of the cost of discipleship. It is the willingness to die for what we believe that is the Cross. It is the attitude in that death of unconditional forgiveness of our enemy that is the Cross. Jesus was the role model which Stephen followed and down through the ages Martin Luther King followed.
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