Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 8 through 11:
8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. 9Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.10He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, 11as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.
When we come to a place of complete brokenness, we have nowhere else to turn save God. We cannot depend upon our own strength, assets, connections, or ability. This is the place of utter dependence.
Paul says he came to a place of despair. “Despair” literally means to lose spirit or breath. In the beginning, when Adam was created from the dust God took dust in hand and breathed the spirit of life into it. To despair is to become again like dust — completely lifeless and totally dependent upon God’s own breath to raise us up again.
“Indeed,” Paul says, “we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”
It is Holy Week. Jesus will soon be condemned to death. He will surrender to the powers of death. He will surrender, be tried, be crucified, and give up his spirit. He will literally despair of all life. At that point, there will be nothing more he can do. He will be dead, completely lifeless. If he is to be raised, then his resurrection will only come by the hand and the spirit of God.
Into God’s hands Jesus will commit his spirit — God’s and God’s alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment