For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 2 Corinthians 3:14
Dear People Who Keep Company with God,
At the heart of our faith lies a profound paradox embodied in the person of Jesus Christ, vividly portrayed in Philippians 2:6-8, “He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! He emptied Himself, that is, refused the use of His divine attributes, that He might show us the meaning of absolute dependence on the Father.
Christ on the cross, crucified in weakness, emphasizes his apparent vulnerability. However, as we explore further, we discover a more profound truth that transcends appearances. In Revelation 5:5-6, John is urged to behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the triumphant conqueror, yet he sees “a Lamb standing as if slaughtered.” Here, in the throne room of Heaven, the paradox becomes apparent—the Lion and the Lamb are one, embodying both triumph and weakness.
The Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:13-15 unveils another facet of this paradox. Christ, though crucified, is portrayed as actively engaging in a cosmic battle. “Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!” Beyond passivity and victimhood, He is unveiled as a wise, powerful, and triumphant warrior, drawing the enemy into His snare; He defeated the forces of darkness by nailing them to the cross. The beauty is that our Lord’s victory is ours to share. By faith, we can apprehend and establish these blessings in our lives (Galatians 2:20).
This New Testament perspective challenges the typical portrayal of Christ as a weak, suffering servant. Instead, it reminds us of Christ’s words in John 10:18, “I surrender My own life, and no one has the power to take My life from Me. I have the authority to lay it down and the power to take it back again. This is the destiny Father has set before Me.” Even in apparent weakness, Jesus Christ holds ultimate power.
While acknowledging weakness, we must not lose sight of the victory inherent in the cross. As Paul expresses in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” We will experience seasons of both need and prosperity, weakness, and victory. Following Jesus Christ means embracing both aspects of this paradox—the humility of Christ’s suffering and the triumph of His resurrection.
The paradox of the cross reveals that true strength is found in embracing Christ in our weakness, and victory is attained through surrender (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). As we journey through life’s trials and triumphs, may we hold fast to the paradoxical truth of the cross—the ultimate symbol of God’s power and love.
Many Blessings, BW