In 1914, during the Christmas Truce of World War I, something unexpected happened on the battlefields of France. Soldiers, entrenched in their bitter fight, suddenly laid down their weapons. German and British troops, who had been fiercely battling just days before, began singing carols and even played a game of soccer together. This moment, brief as it was, seemed foolish to the powers that be. How could sworn enemies engage in something so vulnerable and human in the midst of war? To the generals, it was a temporary and naive interruption. But to those soldiers, it was a glimmer of peace in the midst of unimaginable chaos—a strength that transcended violence.

And isn’t this what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 1:18-24? The world calls the message of the cross foolishness, much like those generals viewed the Christmas Truce. The very idea that victory could be found in defeat, that life could come through death, that strength could be revealed in the ultimate act of weakness—this is a paradox that confounds human wisdom.

Nietzsche and many other philosophers have told us that weakness is to be shunned, that power and control are what define strength. But here comes Christ, who not only embraces weakness but allows it to nail Him to a cross. In His vulnerability, in His humility, He turns the world upside down. The cross, which to the Romans was a symbol of ultimate defeat and humiliation, becomes the very means of victory. It is in this “foolishness” that we see the true power of God.

Can we, too, embrace this counterintuitive strength? Can we redefine what it means to be strong? Society tells us to puff ourselves up, to hide our weaknesses, to power through. But Christ says, “Lay it all down. Trust me with your vulnerability.” He invites us into a strength that is not dependent on outward displays of power, but on the quiet, unwavering certainty of God’s love.

Through the “foolish” cross, we are freed. Freed from the need to prove ourselves. Freed from the weight of shame, the grip of fear. This is not a weak freedom—it is a bold, resilient, earth-shaking strength rooted in love. And this love, brothers and sisters, conquers all. Even death.

So, let us be foolish enough to believe it. Foolish enough to live it. Foolish enough to lay down our pride and embrace the strange, wondrous power of the cross.