Tag Archives: Christ Crucified

Weakness as Strength

Weakness and strengthEastertide
July 3, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Corinthians 12:8-10

What does it mean power is made perfect in weakness? I can unpack this phrase in more than one way. Weakness implies a lack of strength to the point of no strength left at all, but that is never the case really is it? I am a bit claustrophobic. Several years ago I was having some medical tests run and the first preparatory step was to strap me done to a gurney on which I would be wheeled to the machine where I had to be perfectly still. Immediately after attaching the straps the assistant getting me ready was called to help someone in another room. The minute she walked out of the area, my claustrophobia kicked in. I even called out but there was no one to hear. I had to turn inward, through prayer, and find the inner strength to be at peace and did. It actually surprised me.

Christ crucified was a different matter. Jesus was hanging on a cross, one of the cruelest forms of execution, and he did cry out not just in physical pain, but also in the stress of feeling alone.  Death was the reality he faced and the reality came. Christ crucified was Paul’s role model. Christ crucified, who died, was the one who met Paul, then Saul, on the road to Damascus and called him to his ministry. The power of Christ crucified was Paul’s sustaining grace in all the trials he faced even unto death.

My heart still goes out to those nine people killed in Charleston during Bible study. Of this I am sure, Christ crucified was standing in the midst of them throughout the whole ordeal and Christ crucified will make their deaths mean something through those of us left to carry on.

Prayer: Lord, let your strength be in us and make our weakness stronger than evil. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Thorn in the Flesh

branches-trees-sunrise-nature-thorns-hd-wallpaperEastertide
July 2, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.
—2 Corinthians 12:6-7

The old adage “actions speak louder than words” flashed through my mind as I read our scripture for today and then St. Francis’ of Assisi poignant words, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

The thorn in Paul’s flesh has been a subject of great supposition. No one actually has any idea what it really was, but I’ll bet most of us, if we think about it, have thorns that prick our hearts to behave differently than was once our norm. Obviously from Paul we learn those reminders can be a good thing, but, I also think, they can be bad, too. If we have ever been burned by touching something hot, we are probably forever reminded to be careful around fire, but hopefully the burning did not stop us from enjoying a campfire or even cooking.

 

I don’t know how many times, I have heard the words, “We tried that once and it didn’t work.” The period at the end of the statement usually meant we were not going to try it again. We need to be very careful not to let bad past experiences cast a shadow on our loving one another. Indeed, Paul was surely cautious about whatever his thorn in the flesh was, but he never stopped teaching us to love even when our love may have been rejected for Paul’s whole ministry was based on Christ crucified—the one who went to the cross out of love.

Prayer:  Lord, let your love flow steadily through us washing out our fear of loving others even those who do not love us back. Let our lives and actions speak louder than our words. Grant us wisdom, strength, and courage in our work as your body today. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

God’s Wisdom

Christ CrucifiedLent
March 5, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’—1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Don’t we all want to be wise? Didn’t we learn as children that the wise man built his house upon a rock and thus was spared the ravages of the storm? (Matthew 7:24-27)  Didn’t Jesus, himself, tell us we must be as shrewd of serpents? (Matthew 10:16)

Put yourself in the disciples’ sandals as they run away from the garden when Jesus was arrested. Stand with Peter by the fire, and deny Jesus three times to the people who surround you. Even stand at the foot of the cross with John as Jesus asks John to take care of Jesus’ mother. Think how you might feel. You might experience a touch of doubt even though you had lived with him, been taught by him, and had learn to love him dearly.

Now put yourself in the shoes of one of the learned people of Jerusalem. A person of the world acquainted with other cultures, well educated, respected, sought out for your wisdom. What would you have thought about Jesus in those days of his death? You might not have even noticed him.  You might have even been glad the pesky preacher was gone. My guess is Paul then Saul was as cynical as the other learned people of Jerusalem about this itinerate preacher who in their eyes was a false prophet.

Some twenty years later Paul writes to a new church admitting that the world of wisdom thinks that Jesus crucified is only for the foolish but to Paul, it is now the only thing that matters. Ultimate wisdom comes from recognizing truth when one sees it.

Prayer: Lord, school me in the wisdom of your love. Help me grasp your truth. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.