Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 17 – The Great Christian Paradox

An article by Frank    No Comments

In the lead up to Easter we will be putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions will also be available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and will be played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

There is a great paradox in the message of Christianity that centers on the cross of Jesus, his crucifixion – that message says that it is not power and strength that redeems the world, heals our brokenness, or gives hope in the darkest place, but instead, it is weakness and suffering that conquers.

The picture of Jesus given to us in Revelation 5 where the lion has conquered by becoming the sacrificial lamb is the symbol of God conquering the evil that tears his creation away from him. It is the humble lamb that is the hope of the world.

It is our tendency to think that we should solve the world’s problems through might and power – politics and money. It is our tendency to think that we can solve an issue by convincing everyone else we’re right, by arguing our point the best and winning the debate. It is our tendency to think that where wrong has been done to us, we will make sure the perpetrator of that wrong knows it and begs for our forgiveness. But that’s not the way of Jesus – that’s not the way of the cross and the conquering lamb.

It flies in the face of human nature to embrace weakness and sacrifice, to turn the other cheek, to pray for our enemies and to actively seek reconciliation where our relationships have been broken – but this is the way of Jesus.

Today I want to encourage you to embrace weakness and seek reconciliation in your life with people who you have become distant with. In our world, embracing weakness is the real strength and it is the harder road.

Pray

Jesus, help us overcome our human nature when we wish to seek power to solve problems. Help us to embrace your example of weakness, suffering and sacrifice and open us up to the real strengths in these things.

Amen