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June 29, 2023 |
| Sometimes, Grace Is A Thorn | ||
Most of us know that grace means "undeserved favor." Because of that we can come to think that grace means candy, dessert, a good job, unexpected success, and things like that. At the worst, we think of grace as avoiding trouble; not having something bad happen to us that would have happened otherwise.
Sometimes, grace doesn't look like what we expect.
[…] a thorn for my flesh was handed over to me, an angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I be lifted up. 8 And I begged of my Lord concerning this three times, to remove it from me. 9 And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." I shall therefore joyfully boast in my sufferings, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me. 10 Because of this, I am pleased with suffering, with disgrace, with distress, with persecution, with imprisonment, which is for the person of the Messiah, for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
This passage brings up a number of questions.
"my grace is sufficient for you" - what does this mean and what is Jesus telling Paul and us?
"my power is perfected in weakness" - what kind of weakness is Jesus talking about here?
What does this whole passage mean?
These verses are within a larger message whose topic is boasting. The Corinthians have a problem with boasting that Paul is addressing. His approach is to show them that he, an apostle, has much more reason to boast. Effectively he is saying, "You boastful Corinthians have no business boasting. I could, but I don't"
To make this point, prior to our verses, Paul has been talking about the revelations God has given him.
I knew a man in the Messiah more than 14 years ago, whether in the body or without the body, I do not know, God himself knows, who was snatched up unto the third Heaven. 3 And I knew this man, if in a body or if without the body, I do not know, God himself knows, 4 Who was snatched up to Paradise and heard words that are unspeakable, because it is not authorized for a man to speak them. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
He lists two experiences God has given him. More important than those though is that God has entrusted Paul to hear some things but not reveal them to anyone.
After that, in our passage, he talks about not receiving requested healing. It may not seem like it right now, but this is still about boasting, as we will see.
After our passage, he describes wonders and miracles done through him.
I performed the signs of an Apostle among you with all patience and with heroic deeds, with wonders and miracles. (2 Corinthians 12:12)
Boasting is still in focus here because he is listing more reasons that give him to boast.
It's worth adding to Paul's list here. Paul was an apostle and the Bible records many wonders and miracles done by God through him.
Blinded a Jewish man, a sorcerer who was a false Prophet, whose name was Bar Shuma, whose name is translated Alumas Acts 13:6-12
Shakes off a viper that bit him Acts 28:3-6
Heals a cripple Acts 14:8-10
Heals the father of Publius and many more Acts 28:7-10
Cast out a spirit of divination Acts 16:16-18
Paul resurrects Eutychus from the dead Acts 20:9-12
others
a thorn for my flesh was handed over to me, an angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I be lifted up (2 Corinthians 12:7)
This "thorn" he speaks of is an injury to his body. There are hints in the Bible that make it seem like an eye injury. He doesn't say how or when he got this. It's very likely it occurred in one of the beatings and shipwreck he experienced.
Part of what Paul is referring to is lost on us in our time. People mostly traveled by walking in Paul's time. It would have been a common experience to get a thorn stuck in their skin. A more common experience for us would be getting a sliver in your finger. As we all know, they hurt and sometimes you can't get them completely out and they bother you constantly all that time and even after they are removed.
He compares this thorn to one of Satan's angels pushing him off course. The buffeting, he says, is like a strong wind that pushes a person or boat around.
Then he comes back to his main point - boasting. He says, "Lest I be lifted up." That "lifted up" expression is how they said become arrogant. So he means, "Lest I become arrogant." Overall then he is saying this thorn was given to him to keep him humble (not lifted up).
It is amazing how God can give us a gift or do a work through us and we start to think we are something.
And I begged of my Lord concerning this three times, to remove it from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)
This "thorn" was interfering with his ministry, as Paul sees it. So he begged Jesus to heal it. After doing that two times, and not receiving healing, he begs a third time. Then he receives his answer, "No", but with a reason.
And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
"My grace is sufficient for you" means "I've shown you enough favor." Paul has been shown much favor.
The favor we all receive - Jesus dying for our sins
The favor of revelations
The favor of the power of wonders and miracles
"My power is perfected in weakness" means "to work through you, I need you to remain humble." That meaning may come as a surprise but remember the context - arrogant boasting. The weakness referred to here is not physical weakness and obviously It isn't spiritual weakness. It is the weakness that comes from being humble; not arrogantly thinking that we are strong in ourselves.
God's words here imply, "If I show you too much favor you will become arrogant."
I shall therefore joyfully boast in my sufferings, that the power of the Messiah may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9b)
Boasting about your sufferings does not come from arrogance. No one says, "hey look how good I am for suffering this way." So, Paul is happy to boast about those. He has a reason though - so that the Messiah can continue to work through him. Of course he is speaking of working in the power of an apostle.
Because of this, I am pleased with suffering, with disgrace, with distress, with persecution, with imprisonment, which is for the person of the Messiah, for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Paul makes an exception here. Suffering because you did evil doesn't count, only suffering for the Messiah counts. That probably didn't need to be said, but perhaps the Corinthians needed to hear it.
The point here is that, when I am humble, I can be strong in God. Without arrogance in the way, God can work through me. This applies to his audience and topic, where the point is that their arrogant boasting limits what God can do through them.
We know from many verses in the Bible that God despises arrogance. He only works through the humble.
The "thorn" given to Paul was actually a grace given by Jesus. This thorn makes it possible for Paul to have such revelations and use such power and yet remain humble.
At first, Paul saw it as a personal distraction from his ministry and a constant annoyance. He may have also seen it as presenting a poor image of Christianity to potential believers. Yet, having to struggle with it kept him humble.
God's grace can come to us in the form of a thorn. It isn't what we want of course, but God know what is best.
Like Paul, we should also say we are "pleased with suffering, with disgrace, with distress, with persecution, and with imprisonment." We shouldn't just say that, but really mean that. No sense being a hypocrite.