(Read 2 Corinthians 12)
Considering that we are wrapping up the holiest week of the year with Easter this Sunday, we thought it would be fitting to write a devotion about the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. In the words of a mature Christian friend of mine, “If you can’t get into the Holy Week, I’m not sure what you believe in.”
If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
2 Corinthians 12:6-8
If there is anything in the Bible that is more humbling and direct from God, I’m not sure what it might be. This day is observed by many Christians as “Good Friday.” Jesus was beaten, whipped, scourged with sharp bones, shards of glass, and metal, and forced to hoist his own heavy cross uphill to the place where he would be crucified. Many scholars believe he may have bled to death from the scourging if he hadn’t died from the crucifixion. Paul, the writer of Corinthians, pleaded with God to be relieved from the pain of the thorn. Jesus told him that His grace was good enough.
When we look at our own struggles, we usually internalize them. We wonder why this is happening to me? It’s not fair, I’m never supposed to struggle. When we feel pain, we sometimes feel that no one else ever feels pain. No one around us suffers. Well, Jesus made it abundantly clear to Paul that we’re not alone. Christ was telling Paul that he understands, that he has been there and will always be there.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16
“In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe.”
Six years ago, my son and daughter-in-law had one of the most beautiful baby girls you will ever encounter. While I’m biased about my Grandchildren, it‘s the honest truth. At the time, because of the coronavirus, we were not able to see her in person for 6 weeks. But from all the pictures and videos we’ve seen, we knew she is a happy, healthy, and blessed little bundle. Mom and Dad (especially Mom) were extremely busy with the craziness and stress of a first baby and had a rough day yesterday.
I wrote a short message to my family one morning as a reminder of the depth and power of Christ’s suffering this day. I just wanted everyone to reflect upon what Christ has done for us. The torture. The humiliation He suffered for something we brought on ourselves.
What else did Jesus mean by, “My grace is sufficient for you?” Maybe in Christ, we have everything we need. Maybe we have wisdom, His righteousness, and we have the backing of someone who has experienced lows lower than we can ever experience. Or maybe Jesus wants us to know that we have something even better than just getting by our temporary hardships and pains — an eternal life in His presence, forgiven, cleansed, and pain-free. But here’s what I keep coming back to. Sufficient doesn’t mean barely enough. It doesn’t mean just scraping through. In Christ, sufficient means complete. It means nothing is missing. When the bills pile up, when the diagnosis comes, when the relationship fractures — grace doesn’t fix it on our timetable. It carries us through it. Paul didn’t get his thorn removed. He got something better. He got the reminder that the God of the universe was personally present in his weakness. That’s not a consolation prize. That’s the whole thing.
About an hour after I sent my morning message to the family, I got a reply that stopped me in my tracks. It was a reply from my daughter-in-law. We don’t trade texts a lot about this kind of thing. It’s usually about the kids or my wife’s plans for watching them. I wrote with the intent to tell them about Jesus’ painful last three days on earth, and I got a reply that spoke to the meaning of those horrific days.
“This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live.”
In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
It was a blinding flash of light. Cut me to the core of my worries. In Christ is the answer, the safety, the resolution of all things. Nothing more is necessary. He is sufficient. In Christ alone.
Life Applications:
- Faith in Christ doesn’t eliminate problems or pain. Jesus never said it would. Neither does the Bible, but faith in Christ helps align us with His plan for us. Pray hard about your situation. Look from above and think about how God sees this challenge. Sometimes seeing a challenge from another perspective will give you a solution, an idea, or maybe just patience.
- We were never made to walk this walk alone. Today, I was surprised and amazed by the brilliant, insightful light my awesome daughter-in-law shed on me. Love comes to us from all places in a million different ways.