Focus: Weakness Wins

Text: 2Sam.22:36

"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and THY GENTLENESS hath made me GREAT."

On the cross of Calvary Satan came with all his might against Christ. He marshaled all the forces of hell against the Christ of God. Calvary was war - the battle of all battles and the mother of all war. It was a war he fought and won with the weapon of weakness.

Pilate delivered Jesus to the will of the Jewish leaders. The people cried, "Crucify him, crucify him." The soldiers parted His raiment and gambled for His robe. The people stood there, watching Him suffer. The rulers derided Him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God" (Lk.23:35). The soldiers mocked Him, saying, "If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself." One of the thieves railed on Him, saying, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." The temptation was for the Christ to use His divine power, but little did they know that His only weapon against the forces of Satan was WEAKNESS. He fought and won with the arsenal of weakness.

He did not retaliate. He did not revile back when He was reviled. He demonstrated the hidden power of weakness. The Apostle Paul says "the FOOLISHNESS of God is wiser than men; and the WEAKNESS of God stronger than men" (1Cor.1:25). If God's weakness could win the war, why use strength? No way! God's weakness is enough strength for the war. Paul talked about "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2Cor.10:1).

A lyric from David's song says, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." His gentleness - mildness, meekness, humility, submissiveness to God, goodness - has made us great. Our story has changed because of His weakness and meekness demonstrated on the cross. He was taken to the place of slaughter, yet He opened not His mouth. Had He come down from the cross, as they had wanted Him to, we would not be here, telling the salvation story. We would have been lost forever - eternally helpless and hopeless. But thank God for what we have become through His gentleness.

He beat Satan and his armies hands down just by His weakness - meekness, mildness and gentleness.

Not all battles are fought with strength. Weakness is a mighty weapon in God's hands. Show of strength can actually be our greatest undoing.

We can win through weakness - just by being good, calm and cool. You can win by letting God be God, by leaving matters in his hands, and letting him fight for you, if the need be. Returning words for words or kicking back at those who kick at us is totally unacceptable to God and quite unnecessary.

Let us allow the gentleness and goodness of Christ to mold and make us great. There is greatness in being gentle. Jesus Christ died in weakness and rose in power - exceedingly great power. Truly his gentleman has made us great. Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! I'm great by his grace. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter