Is Jesus Weak?
I remember watching ‘Passion of the Christ’ as a defiant teenager and thinking to myself: “Wow, Jesus is so weak.”
I had grown up believing that strength is displayed through power and authority. If Jesus was God, why did he die? Why didn’t he fight back? Why didn’t he defend himself? Isn’t this the narrative of every Kung Fu or superhero movie to exist? The good guy kicks butt and saves the world? I walked out of the cinema feeling confused and thinking that Christianity was a crutch for the weak.
In my late teens, I started digging into the Scriptures and soon realised the foolishness of my pride, in light of the greatness of Christ’s humility. Although Jesus had all wisdom, power and authority, he withheld it all for the good of others. The cross displayed God’s greatness in humility as he bore the mess of the world, and demonstrated his love towards his enemies and mockers.
Instead of smiting me for my pride, God patiently revealed himself to me by his grace. Instead of mocking me for my foolishness, He transformed my life with the wisdom of the cross. What kind of God-figure or leader would do that? The cross is truly the greatest love story ever told.
As I decided to follow Jesus and imitate his example, I realised very quickly that Christianity is far from a crutch to maximise comfort. In a messy and broken world, what actually takes more strength?
Love or hatred for the enemy?
Revenge or forgiveness for your mockers?
Compassion or anger for people who have betrayed you?
Laying down your life for others or self-preservation?
As I failed over and over to live and love as Jesus does, I soon realised it was I that was truly weak and in desperate need of a saviour. The good news is, Jesus died to bear the brokenness of my humanity and three days later, he conquered death to show me that in a broken world, there’s purpose to our pain.
“He is risen!” is a declaration of hope that takes away the sting of death and disappointment. No matter what comes my way, I know that beyond the grave is the promise of eternal life, secured for me by a Servant King who traded a crown for a cross, a throne for thorns and power for pain. He didn’t die because he was weak but because he was truly great.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
