The Servant of the Lord

Forsake Me Not When My Strength Is Spent

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(A)folly to ^(B)those who are perishing, but to us ^(C)who are being saved it is ^(D)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

^20 (F)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ^(G)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach^[a] to save those who believe. ²² For ^(H)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ ^(I)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(J)the power of God and ^(K)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: ^(L)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But ^(M)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; ^(N)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even ^(O)things that are not, to ^(P)bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so ^(Q)that no human being^[c] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(R)wisdom from God, ^(S)righteousness and ^(T)sanctification and ^(U)redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, ^(V)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

²⁰ Now ^(A)among those who went up to worship at the feast were some ^(B)Greeks. ²¹ So these came to ^(C)Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told ^(D)Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ And Jesus answered them, ^(E)“The hour has come ^(F)for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(G)unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ^25 (H)Whoever loves his life loses it, and ^(I)whoever ^(J)hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must ^(K)follow me; and ^(L)where I am, there will my servant be also. ^(M)If anyone serves me, ^(N)the Father will honor him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

^27 (O)“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, ^(P)save me from ^(Q)this hour’? But ^(R)for this purpose I have come to ^(S)this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.” Then ^(T)a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ^(U)“An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰ Jesus answered, ^(V)“This voice has come for your sake, not mine. ^31 (W)Now is the judgment of this world; now will ^(X)the ruler of this world ^(Y)be cast out. ³² And I, ^(Z)when I am lifted up from the earth, ^(AA)will draw ^(AB)all people to myself.” ³³ He said this ^(AC)to show by what kind of death he was going to die. ³⁴ So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that ^(AD)the Christ remains forever. How can you say that ^(AE)the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵ So Jesus said to them, ^(AF)“The light is among you ^(AG)for a little while longer. ^(AH)Walk while you have the light, lest darkness ^(AI)overtake you. ^(AJ)The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become ^(AK)sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.