**"Jesus, The Power and Wisdom of God"**

**1 Cor 1:22-25** - For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

**C. S. Lewis** - “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

**1. The Jews asked for signs (miracles) to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.

**John 2:18** - The Jews then said to Him, **"What sign do You show** us as your authority for doing these things?"

**John 6:2** - A large crowd followed Him, because they **saw the signs** which He was **performing on those who were sick.**

**John 6:14** - Therefore when the **people saw the sign** which He had performed, they said, **"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."**

**John 6:26** - Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because **you saw signs**, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

**John 6:30** - So they said to Him, **"What then do You do for a sign,** so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

**Matt 5:38-44** - "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever **slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.** 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

**John 18:36** - Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

**2. Greeks seek wisdom (loved wisdom)**

**Acts 26:24** - While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, **"Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.**

**3. Jesus and the gospel is stumbling block and foolishness to the world. (1 Cor. 1:23)**