“We are Weak, but He is Strong”

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

One of the true joys of parenthood is having the opportunity to read stories and sing songs with our children. I loved singing to both of my children after reading stories together. It has been years since I last did that, of course, but I am looking forward to reading stories and singing to both grandchildren someday.😉 One of the songs I sang almost every night to both of our kids was “Jesus Loves Me.” I still remember when Sam was about three years old, he announced in the middle of a toy store that he wanted to sing a song, and out came, “Jesus Loves Me.” It was a precious moment that has become a cherished memory.

That song brings back memories of my own childhood, as my mom would sing it to me at night. I learned through that song that Jesus loves me. Yet there is that part we sing through but may not pause to consider. “They are weak, but he is strong.” Is it just about little ones and their lack of physical strength, or is there something more? In today’s scripture passage, Paul mentions a weakness, and we learn what this weakness means to him spiritually.

The purpose of this letter to the church at Corinth was to try to heal a broken relationship.  We know Paul wrote several letters to the church in Corinth, most of which have been lost. It is more likely that this letter is a compilation of fragments of some of the letters Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. Our section for today is believed to be part of a full letter, chapters 10-13. Paul was having difficulty with this church, which he had spent 18 months helping to organize. This letter, in particular, addresses a deterioration between Paul and the church, and is primarily concerned with what was happening within the church. Perhaps the congregation had expected him to return, and often. At the beginning of the letter, Paul defends his decision not to visit with them a second time, because in Paul’s own words, “it would be too painful.”

Beginning with verse 1 of chapter 12, Paul responds to a letter from individuals in the congregation, the contents of which are unknown to us. It appears some in the church were boasting of their own spiritual experiences and claiming more authority as a result. Additionally, the Corinthian congregation expected leaders to have visions and revelations regularly. These kinds of experiences were viewed in the ancient world as a special sign of God’s favor. And some in the congregation claimed to have more favor with God than Paul because they had experienced numerous visions and revelations. Had Paul had any dreams or revelations? Did he also have God’s favor?

According to verses 1-5, Paul had experienced a mystical vision of paradise approximately 14 years before writing this letter. Faithful Jews of the first century believed in levels of heaven, sometimes as many as seven, but more often three. This third heaven, usually referred to as paradise in certain Jewish apocalyptic writings, is the one to which Paul was “caught up in.” For some unknown reason, Paul was speaking of himself in the third person, much as an athlete does nowadays in the interview room after the game. One of the members of the Oakland A’s in the late 1980s used to do this all the time- Jose Canseco. “Jose Canseco can still play in the outfield.”  Or, “Jose Canseco deserves to be paid.” Jose would say. Suffice it to say, Paul, like Jose, was speaking about himself. In verses 6-7, he tells the Corinthians that his vision all those years ago was authentic, and that it elated him, brought him up high- he was on top of the world.

Then comes the section for today’s focus-weakness. Paul says in verse 5-“but on my behalf I will not boast, except of my weakness.” To keep Paul from being too elated, he was brought low. A thorn was given to him in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him. Here we have this hero of scripture, a man who spread the Gospel throughout the Holy Land and beyond; yet, he had a weakness, something that tormented him greatly. What was Paul’s weakness? The thorn refers to something painful. Many commentators believe that since he said it was “in his flesh,” this was some form of physical ailment.  In his letter to the Galatians (4:13-14), Paul makes a direct reference to his illness: "You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself." Some have suggested MS, or epilepsy, something that may’ve caused trouble for Paul walking and speaking. Still others have suggested that Paul suffered from bouts of depression.  Others believe Paul had a particular weakness for some temptation. Yet, others believe that the thorn was a person or persons, perhaps people within the Corinthian congregation who were stirring up trouble for Paul. Whatever it was, it appears to have come about just after Paul’s vision.

So, for some 14 years, Paul had prolonged suffering in his life, a thorn in his flesh, and it tormented him. It caused him to undergo great pain and anguish, and it upset him greatly. Three times, Paul prayed for an end to his torment. For two of those times, God was silent on the issue, but the third time, Paul received the message- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.” I doubt that is what Paul wanted to hear. He wanted his torment to end, the thorn to be removed, but God said no.

What was the purpose of Paul’s weakness?  Perhaps, in time, Paul realized that his suffering was teaching him a valuable lesson. British theologian Ernest Best said, “Suffering dignifies; borne patiently, it strengthens character.” For some of us, this is indeed the case. Losses of family and friends, and our physical ailments have taught us much about suffering and loss, pain and discomfort.

I think for Paul, the message of his thorn was this: Do not fear your weakness, for weakness and suffering are part of life, even for the faithful Christian. Acceptance of this reality allowed God’s grace to work in Paul’s own life. Over time, Paul came to understand that his thorn was a source of strength. He believed this thorn saved him from earthly and spiritual pride and led him to humility. He needed to be reminded that his vision of paradise was not all there was in his world, nor in his personal life. Paradise needed to be balanced with the torment of the cross.  Through Paul’s weakness, the power of Christ dwelt within him. Paul’s eventual contentment with his suffering then broadened - no longer was this weakness his thorn, but now there were also insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Through these experiences, Paul came to understand God’s strength. Again, Best says, “Grace often means favor with which God looks at us and forgives us...However, linked to power, it is also used to describe the strength God gives, by which Christians can live as Christians. This strength can only function where there is first weakness, and where that weakness is acknowledged.”

Weakness acknowledged-Let me give you an example. As a parent, there have been times when I have attempted to teach one of my children a new skill. One example that comes to mind is when our children were learning to tie their shoes. With both kids, Paula and I made many attempts to offer instruction. Many times, both of them would respond,  “NO. I can do it myself!” We would sit and watch from a distance as they desperately tried to remember how to make both bunny ears and the bunny's path around one ear and down the hole. Eventually, they would give up, their shoulders slumping, realizing they couldn't do it alone. Once they finally recognized their weakness, Paula and I were able to complement their strengths, helping them learn how to tie their shoes. I believe God worked in just the same way with Paul, and works the same way with you and me- God cannot impart strength to us until we come to acknowledge our weakness. When Paul realized he could do nothing about his thorn, God’s strength came in. Paul had a new understanding of his life, and as a result, he could finally tie his spiritual shoes.

Today, we focus on this notion of weakness. God wants us to acknowledge and utilize our weaknesses, all for the sake of Christ. Paul says in 1^st Corinthians 1:27- “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” God uses our weaknesses and our sufferings to demonstrate God’s power. God uses imperfect, ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, despite their weaknesses or limitations.

We may think of those in the Bible as heroes, perfect people used by God to convey a fantastic message of hope. Yet, so many of these heroes had weaknesses - Moses was not a good speaker and had a temper. He killed an Egyptian in anger, struck a rock that he was supposed to talk with, and broke the Ten Commandments. Abraham was fearful and a liar- He claimed his beautiful wife was his sister to protect himself. David was an adulterer and an accomplice to murder. Jacob was a manipulator who spent much of his life scheming and evading the consequences. Esther’s morals weren’t the greatest, as she used sex and politics to get her way. Mary was just a teenager and a poor house enslaved person. She had no standing whatsoever, and yet she bore the Son of God and raised him. God used all of these people’s weaknesses and transformed them into strengths.

At my last call, we had a cumbersome communion table. When we hosted choir festivals, that table had to be moved out of the sanctuary and was used as a registration table for the festival participants. Once the festival was over, the table needed to get back to its place up in the chancel area. One year, as I was putting things back in place, one of the older members, in her late 70s, offered to help put the table back up in the cancel area. I was skeptical and wondered how this old person could be of any help, but said, “Sure, thanks.”  I was worried she would injure her back when lifting the table.  As we lifted and began carrying the heavy table back to its spot, I felt a twinge in my back but said nothing. I was too proud to acknowledge anything to this septuagenarian. We got the table up the chancel stairs and back into place, and I said, “Thanks!” But I was in some severe back pain as I limped back into my office. It took a couple of weeks before I could walk or bend without pain. That back weakness led me from pride to the strength of humility, and it is a lesson I have held onto.

Or consider the conversion story of Christian Author and famous Presbyterian Anne Lamott. She tells of her many weaknesses in her book, Traveling Mercies. She was at a very low point in her life. After an affair with a married man, getting pregnant and going through an abortion, Anne self-medicated with drugs and binge drinking. One night, as she lay in bed, she felt a presence in her room and described it as Jesus, hunkered down in the corner. Over the next few days, Jesus’s presence kept following her around like a cat. After walking around Marin City at a flea market, and hearing hymns drifting over the air being sung by a choir at Marin City Presbyterian church, she said to Jesus, “All right. Screw it. You can come in.” After sharing the beginning of her conversion, she then quotes a line from English poet George Herbert, who wrote, “And here, in dust and dirt, O here, the lilies of God’s love appear.” In acknowledging and writing about her many weaknesses, Anne has become a strong example of faith. I have six of her books on my office shelf.