The Hard Truth About the Cross – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 27, 2026

Biblical Context

1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, a city known for its wealth, trade, and moral laxity. Paul wrote this letter around 53-55 AD during his third missionary journey. The Corinthian church faced many issues, including divisions, immorality, lawsuits among believers, and confusion about spiritual gifts and resurrection. Paul’s goal was to correct these problems, bring unity, and teach them about living a Christian life in a pagan culture. He reminds them of the core message of the gospel – the cross of Christ – which they were forgetting in their pursuit of worldly wisdom and status.

Key Word Study

Foolish (Greek: μωρία – mōria)

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul calls the message of the cross “foolish” to those who are dying. The Greek word mōria is where we get our English word “moron.” It means something absurd, stupid, or silly. For the Greeks, who valued human reason and philosophy, the idea of a God dying on a cross for humanity’s sins was utterly illogical and nonsensical. It went against everything they held dear about wisdom and power. Paul uses this word intentionally to show the sharp contrast between human wisdom and God’s wisdom. What humans see as foolish, God uses as His way to save.

The Cross: More Than a Fashion Statement

You know, I heard a story once about a couple looking for jewelry. They were in a store, and the jeweler was showing them all sorts of crosses. The woman said, “I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?” It’s a striking image, isn’t it?

That’s what lots of people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross that doesn’t cause any trouble—one that just looks cool with their clothes. But here’s the hard truth: if we could go back in time and see the cross as it truly was, we’d realize it was a bloody, awful symbol. It would have been the absolute worst thing to see someone hanging there.

A Vile Instrument of Death

The Romans didn’t pick crucifixion by chance. They chose it because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed to make a person feel utterly worthless and ashamed. The crucifixions outside Roman cities weren’t just punishments; they served as warnings to anyone who dared to stand against Rome’s rule. It was a tool of terror, not something you’d ever want to wear around your neck.

Jesus’ Exclusive Claim

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 nlt). What He meant was, if you want salvation and eternal life, you’ll only find it through Him. A lot of people today don’t like His words. They see John 14:6 as a statement of being too picky or narrow-minded. But Jesus wasn’t being exclusive for the sake of it; He was simply telling us about God’s actual plan for saving us.

The Debt We Couldn’t Pay

Think about it: our decision to disobey God and chase after sin created a huge problem, an existential crisis, and there was only one solution. To make things right with God’s perfect justice and satisfy His righteous anger, a perfect sacrifice had to be made in our place. Someone who had never sinned had to die for everyone else who had. And who was that? Only Jesus lived a life without sin. Only He had the strength to beat death. So, only He could save us.

No Other Way Was Possible

If there had been any other path, do you really think God would have let His Son suffer like that? If there had been any other way for us to be forgiven, then God surely would have found it. We can’t imagine a loving Father wanting His Son to go through that if it wasn’t the only option.

Jesus Himself prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 nlt). He was talking about the cross, about the unimaginable pain and suffering that was coming. But God didn’t take it away from Him because, truly, there was no other way for you and me to be saved.

More Than a Good Life

If simply living a good, moral life could get us to Heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did die. He had to pay the price for our sin. At the cross, Jesus bought the salvation of the world. It wasn’t about our good deeds; it was about His perfect sacrifice.

Look to the Cross for Love

If you ever feel tempted to doubt God’s love for you, even for a moment, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Really see it. It wasn’t the nails that held Jesus to that cross; it was His amazing, endless love for you and me.