from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
CHRIST: THE WISDOM OF GOD
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30
When Jesus said that the Old Testament was written about Him that included the book of Proverbs that we’ll be studying in the season ahead (Luke 24:44). Proverbs is God’s handbook on wisdom and Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).
Before Jesus entered this world as a man, Isaiah prophesied that His life would be marked by wisdom. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2). See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted (Isaiah 52:13).
Jesus displayed wisdom from His youth. Luke 2:40 says, And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. He was twelve years old when He sat in the temple courts among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Scripture tells us that everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers (Luke 2:47).
He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52) and displayed wisdom in His parables, teaching, and life. Think on His wisdom when He talked to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), diffused tension between Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), and said to those intent on stoning a woman who was caught in the act of adultery, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:1-11). Religious leaders kept close watch on Him and tried to trap Him in what He said in public. Instead, these leaders were astonished by His answers (Luke 20:26)!
God is the source of all wisdom and Jesus is the perfection of all wisdom. The book of Proverbs tells us how to be wise even as it points us to the all-wise God. Within the book of Proverbs there are clear distinctions between the wise and the foolish, between walking the highway of the upright and the path of the wicked.
Those who are wise choose Jesus. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:7-8, emphasis added). Through Him He gives us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better (Ephesians 1:17). Thanks be to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Wisdom Step: Simultaneously read the book of Proverbs and the gospels. Take note of how Jesus perfectly obeyed the Proverbs. Let’s follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21).
As the one who lived wisdom, the one who is wisdom, the one who is the way of wisdom, and the one who supplies wisdom, Jesus is present in Proverbs in a most profound way.
Anthony Selvaggio
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