The Power of Christ In Us

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul briefly described his experience with being taken up into the third heaven, into paradise. He said nothing about this for 14 years, then gave an account of it without providing much detail. He then went on to tell about the thorn in his flesh that was given to him in order to prevent him from boasting about his experience. Paul said this about the thorn:

2 Corinthians 12:8–10

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (ESV)

Jesus uses the weak in this world to display his power that he might be glorified. G.C. Berkouwer said this about Jesus’ kingdom and seeming weakness:

“The entire New Testament witnesses irrefutably to the kingship of Christ, and from this witness we can learn something as to its nature. It is no rule of terror and brute power. Men derided Him in His suffering because of the strange nature of His Kingdom. It remained in its true nature hidden to those who watched Him on His way to death. “

When Jesus has been turned over for crucifixion Berkouwer says:

“They can only skeptically inquire and shamefully mock as they measure His strange kingship according to the earthly patterns and fail to see the revelation of royalty within His utter humiliation, as the prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled in this King without troops, in His transition from suffering to glory. But he who can see the light of revelation falling upon this poverty, sympathetically understands the prayer of the murderer who turns to the middle cross and discovers there a King.”

The thief on the cross saw Jesus in his most vulnerable, weakened state and yet still recognized him as his savior. How much more should we acknowledge and worship our King.