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26 April 2010

When Was Jesus at His Strongest?

Sounds awfully close to blasphemy, isn't it?  I fully adhere to the fact that Christ was fully God and fully man, but I still ask the question: at what point did He show His greatest strength?  Was it His miracles or His teachings that showed His greatness?  When was Christ at His absolute pinnacle?  

Is there a reason for this inquiry?  It came to me when I was speaking with someone who was in a terrible state.  Recently coming to Christ, he is still having some difficulty coming to terms with his newly diagnosed, debilitating (and permanent) illness and other problems plaguing his life.  He is, however, searching for his answers in Scripture and prayer.  As we spoke, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my words, to say something that would help this new brother in Christ.  The Holy Spirit then gave me a thought it was after the arrest of Jesus that Christ showed His deep strength.  When He was beaten and bloody and nailed to the cross, as He hung by His hands and feet, naked in front of all his persecutors and only a few of his followers, Christ was not weak.  Jesus could have called a legion of angels down from heaven and the universe would never be the sameInstead, He was obedient to the Will of the Father, showing immense strength and honor.  As He was also fully human, can we possibly imagine the strength it took to keep from calling out in anger and pain, to stick to the Father's plan?  When Jesus could not move, could not preach in parables, could not heal the sick, make the blind see, the deaf hear, or dispel demons; it is here that His mighty strength is seen like at no other time. 

How does this help us, or this guy?  The fallen world sees strength first as a physical attribute, then as a mental or moral kind of thing.  Those who reject the Christ cannot see strength as acceptance of another's will because they cannot fathom acquiescing to a Creator they will not know.  However, through the willing acceptance of His death on the cross, Jesus demonstrates that it is in following the Will of the Father that we can be at our absolute strongest.  When we accept our weaknesses, when we rely on God and take the time to listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to us, it is then that we can be used by the Father in ways we cannot even imagine.  Therefore, we can see our inabilities as God's gatewaysRemember, when we cannot, God can.  

God blessed me greatly when He allowed a physical limitation with debilitating pain to afflict me, because He has also granted me the grace of a new understanding.  Only now, after my own experience, can I better understand Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians.  In verse 9, God answers Paul's request to remove a "thorn in his side" by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".  Although I wouldn't wish my pain on my worst enemy (and I have a list), I also would never give up the experience and grace I have received from this disability.  My God is sufficient for me, how about you?

3 comments:

  1. I’ve enjoyed looking over your blog. I came across it through another blog I follow. I am now a follower of yours as well. Feel free to look over my blog and perhaps become one as well.

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  2. Thank you so much for such an uplifting and inspirational message. God's grace is also sufficient for me. I really enjoyed reading your blog. May our Lord continue to shine through you. God bless, Lloyd

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  3. Anonymous30/4/10 10:36

    WOW - I think this may be your best post yet. You are right and thank you for reminding me.

    ReplyDelete

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