Philippians 2:5-8
What does it mean to be vulnerable? An NFL football team unexpectedly loses a game when an opposing coach discovers and exploits some weakness. Other teams then will exploit the same exposed weakness. A receiver attempting a difficult catch momentarily makes himself a “defenseless receiver.” The exposing of that weakness leads to vulnerability. Not many people like to be vulnerable or weak or defenseless. We live in a culture that values strength. When we are aware of our own weaknesses (and we all have them) we have no desire to expose them. Others exploit them to their advantage and our disadvantage. That’s why we often try to cover their weaknesses. The less vulnerable I am, the less likely my weakness is exploited in our competitive culture. But that’s not Christ’s way. The more I hide my weaknesses, the less I’m able to get help with them. The more I project only strength (or the illusion of it) the less capable I am sympathetic with others in their weaknesses. If my goal is to imitate Christ, however, then I need to resist the urge to cover my weaknesses; I need to embrace vulnerability. Following the way of Jesus rather than the ways of this world can lead to a powerful witness. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Meekness is not the same as weakness, but it involves humility and a willingness not to use our power to dominate others. In that way, it is a type of vulnerability. We see Jesus demonstrating vulnerability with His disciples both in embracing positions of weakness and service: washing the disciples’ feet, John 13:1-17; and in His powerful expression of anguish before His disciples in Gethsemane, Matt. 26:36-46). Paul is even more explicit about embracing weakness. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27). Paul teaches us to not deny our weakness, and to not follow the world’s so-called “wisdom” that values strength and disdains vulnerability. There is a more central and more powerful example yet: Jesus’ choice to take on the fullness of human weakness: the vulnerability of a human baby, born in captivity; of human flesh that experienced pain, hunger, loss, and suffering; and ultimately of being hung on a cross where all His enemies could exploit the weakness of human flesh: the vulnerability of death itself. The long-expected Messiah arrived not in the triumph of politics and power, but unexpectedly in shocking humility and vulnerability. It is the vulnerability that Paul expresses so beautifully in Philippians 2:5-8. It is the hardest idea to fathom: the astounding vulnerability of God. In what ways might you practice vulnerability? More willing to discuss your own weaknesses or struggles with others in your family? your church? Lord, help me to grow in my honesty with others. In the Name of our Savior who took on human flesh with astounding vulnerability, Amen! John 17:20-23
Near the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed what is sometimes called His “High Priestly Prayer.” It because Jesus intercedes for His disciples, both present and future, in a priestly way. He shows His deep care for them and their well-being, as well as their mission in the world. It is quite a stunning prayer. First, Jesus prays that His disciples, both present and future, “may all be one” (v. 21). Then He compares their oneness to that unique unity Jesus shares with His Heavenly Father (vv. 21-23). Finally, Jesus prays that His disciples “may be brought to complete unity” (v. 23). We’re talking about serious oneness here! The unity of Christians is essential to our mission, according to Jesus. We are to be unified in God, Jesus prays, “so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” (v. 21). In other words, our unity testifies to the truth of the gospel. We see this same point being made in a slightly different way in Eph. 2. We learn that the death of Christ not only reconciles us to God but also to each other (Eph. 2:11-22). Then, in Eph. 3, we discover that the through the church the wisdom of God will be made known to the whole universe (Eph. 3:10). When we live as unified people, we bear witness to the unifying truth of the Gospel. The prayer of Jesus in John 17 makes one of the strongest biblical cases for the “can’t do it alone” principle. As Jesus envisions the church of the future, He sees unity among Christians as absolutely essential to our identity and our witness. In my experience, though the larger church of Christ is sadly disunified, the sort of unity Jesus envisions can happen in more intimate Christian fellowship, in healthy churches and committed small groups, in prayer partnerships and long-term friendships, in marriages and other family relationships. So, even if you don’t have much influence on the larger church, in the core relationships of your life you can seek to experience the unity for which Jesus once prayed. I think this sort of real-time, small-scale unity is necessary for all of us on the way to a more global oneness of the church. Whenever I read Jesus’s “High Priestly Prayer,” I feel led to examine my attitude toward the church and its unity. Do I help my own church to be more united through my words and actions? Or am I someone who easily sows seeds of disunity? Am I willing to build relationships with Christians who are not quite like me theologically, sociologically, racial-ethnically, or geographically? Am I someone who cherishes the unity of the church or do I tend to focus on ways in which Christians differ and disagree? Jesus’s prayer, with its striking request that all disciples of Jesus be unified, also challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we experiencing in our relationships the unity for which Jesus prayed? Are we helping our church to be more united and less divided? Are we living each day in the reality of the oneness we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Through our unity in a world full of divisions and divisiveness, may people see the reconciling truth of the gospel. May they be drawn to You, O God, because of our unity in You. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
In the movie, The Lion King, Simba fails to take his place in the circle of life. He is the rightful king of his land but is hiding in shame, fearful of accepting his rightful sovereignty. The turning point comes when a vision of Simba’s deceased father, Mufasa, appears to him. Mufasa tells his son that he should become king. When Simba hesitates, Mufasa says, “Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are.” If the Apostle Paul had seen The Lion King, he might have quoted Mufasa when writing to the Colossians believers. If the Colossians are to fully live out the Christian way, they need to remember who they are. They are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. When they remember who they are, then they will be ready to live who they are. Who are they? And, by implication, who are we? V. 12 discloses that we are “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.” First, we are people God has chosen. God wants to be in relationship with us. God wants us to participate in His work in the world. Though we enter into that relationship by receiving the gospel in faith, at a deeper level of reality God has chosen us. Eph. 1:4 says that God “chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.” Second, we are holy. This does not mean we are perfect. Nor does it mean we are outrageously religious. Holiness, in the Bible, has to do with being set apart for God. We are holy because God has set us apart from what is common and ordinary so that we might be in relationship with God as well as engaged in God’s mission in the world. Holiness involves being set apart for relationship with God and then for participation in God’s work. Third, we are beloved. The Greek reads literally, “having been loved.” Not only has God chosen us, not only has God set us apart, but also God continues to love us in Christ. This love is not dependent on our being lovable. We are not beloved by God because we have done such an amazing job of loving God first. Rather, God’s love, like God’s choosing, is an expression of God’s sovereign grace. It’s wonderful to be chosen, set apart, and loved. Many of us tend to define our identity mainly by our work: “I am a teacher. I am an engineer.” Others by family relationships: “I am a mother. I am a daughter. I am a grandfather.” Some by their accomplishments: “I got straight A’s. I am a decorated veteran.” This way of identifying ourselves is not necessarily wrong, but if they are our fundamental identity, then we have lost touch with what matters most. And what matters most of all is how God relates to us. God gives us our core identity. According to Colossians 3:12, God’s relationship with you tells you who you are: chosen, holy, and beloved. The more you remember this, the more you know who you are in Christ, the more you’ll be ready to live in His way. This Mother’s Day, be sure to remember who you are. Remember who you are! Dear Lord, may my identity be deeply connected to You and Your relationship with me. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins.
If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17b) The annual theme of our church is “Renovaré: I am doing a new thing.” Since the pastoral staff have set the theme at the annual pastoral retreat last October, I have been thinking about the parable of “New Wine and New Wineskin” from the New Testament. This parable is recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and I personally like Matthew’s the most, because Matthew added the last sentence of “No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:17b) In Jesus’s time, wine was kept in wineskin made of sheepskin. The new sheepskin has enough stretch so that when fresh grape juice produces gas during fermentation, it holds the new wine well. On the contrary, if an old sheepskin that lacks elasticity was used, it would burst during the process of fermentation without doubt. In order to protect both the wine and the wineskin (the Greek original meaning of “preservation” is also “protection”), the wine needs to be poured into a new wineskin. Jesus used this parable in response to inquiries from John the Baptist’s disciples and Pharisees about fasting, thus extending Jesus’ attitude towards so-called “dogmatic rules” and “religious traditions.” The appearance of Jesus was a new thing for the Jews of the time. They were amazed by His words and deeds, His teachings, and His miracles. The meaning of fasting was to humble oneself, let go of the needs of the flesh, and focus on God; however, the Pharisees regarded fasting as “merit” and made it obvious in front of people (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus harshly rebuked the Pharisees for their actions because they based their faith on “keeping the law,” forgetting that the most import essence of the law was to “love God and love men.” Jesus was the “new wine,” and apparently the Pharisees were keeping Jesus in “old wineskin.” They cling to past traditions, thinking, experiences, methods, systems, patterns, as well as the glorious achievements and history. They also cling to their self-righteous identification and knowledge of the Messiah. What a pity that they cannot be the vessels for receiving the new wine. What about us? When God wants to do new things in our lives, families, work, church, and ministry, are we ready to be the new wineskin to hold the new wine? Are we resilient and adaptable? Are we willing to let go of our insistence and let God adjust us? Are we willing to sept out of our comfort zone and embraces the new changes with faith and hope? May we all be the new wineskin and let the new wine fill!! |
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