Crucified in Weakness – Raised in Power
Gordon Crook, PastorGrace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas
“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4
This verse captures both sides of the redemption story; Jesus’ death and resurrection. There is much we can learn from breaking down this verse to understand the accomplishment of our salvation and what it means for us. Last month we considered that Jesus died in weakness; that is the weakness of a human body. This month we will consider the He “liveth by the power of God.”
I want to consider two main things here. Our Lord and Savior is ALIVE. There is nothing more important than this statement. All religions throughout history have had their “prophet” or “leader” that is now in a grave somewhere. We serve a living Savior who sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. The second thing is the power that is mentioned. It is by God’s power that Jesus was raised from the dead.
In the Old Testament, God had already prophesied that Jesus would raise from the dead. “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psalms 16:10. Peter quotes this passage in Acts 2:27 which let’s us know with certainty that it refers to our Lord. God foresaw this because He foresaw that Jesus would satisfy the penalty for sins.
From Romans, we realize that baptism represents our death and burial with Him, but also, and very importantly, our rising with Him. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. It is then, this resurrection life that is in us and gives us life and hope. It is because of the risen Jesus that we can live a life that is pleasing to our Lord. We no longer have to “walk” (conduct our lives) according to the old nature because we now “walk” in newness of life; His resurrection life.
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:5-6. Not only are we able to be pleasing to our Father, we are actually sitting provisionally in the heavens because of the resurrection life of Jesus. We are made alive. Not just life, but “abundant” life. John 10:10.
Secondly, we have to consider the power of this resurrection life. The power it took to raise Jesus is beyond what we might really understand. Consider the moving of the stone that was needed to reveal the empty tomb. I really don’t think God needed to move the stone to get Jesus out of the tomb, but it was necessary so all could see the empty tomb. But more importantly, the power to raise a person from the dead. Power beyond ours.
That same power that God used to raise Jesus, is available to us to empower our life and our walk. “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:19-20. We may not understand well exactly how much power is at our disposal, but Paul prays for us that we would get a revelation of that power that will work in our lives to produce a life that is pleasing to God.
Paul himself wanted to have that same revelation. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10. While Paul did not claim to have attained to that ultimate prize at this point, he desperately wanted to know and understand the power that would get him to that prize. How about you? Are you longing to understand and know the resurrection power in your life?
The resurrection matters, because it is our eternal hope. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3. We are looking forward to a time when we will be raised and receive a glorified body. That hope should keeps us going in this word of turmoil and distress.
The resurrection encourages us to keep our focus on our Lord Jesus. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1. The original translation should say, “Since you are risen with Christ.” That resurrection should keep us pointed towards Jesus and the heavenly things that are most important.
I encourage you today to seek to know Him in the power of His resurrection. To seek to be changed by that power, to press towards the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.
