2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him… I. THE FORMER WAS THROUGH WEAKNESS. 1. Christ assumed a nature which was capable of crucifixion. Who could crucify God? But the God-Man might walk in weariness and weakness to Golgotha. What a pathetic consideration that Christ voluntarily chose a nature which was subject to suffering and death! 2. Christ repressed his innate power. (1) His Divine power. Thus he laid down his life; no man took it from him. But a flash of that power, and the cross would never have been reared. But a word from his lips, and his persecutors would have been dead men. But then the gospel would never have been told to man; so for man omnipotence became impotence. (2) His human power. Man power as well as God power was discarded. There was no resistance. He became "as a sheep before her shearers." He voluntarily became the weakest of the weak that he might be strong to redeem. Learn here that repression is often a triumph. Not always does the putting forth of power mean success. It is sometimes our wisdom to sit still, to submit, to be silent. II. THE LATTER WAS IN POWER. 1. A marvellous event. What a contrast between the first day and the third! How mighty men seem on the former! how unutterably impotent on the latter! How weak Christ seems on the one! how omnipotent on the other! 2. Demanding Divine energy. This power was not of man. Man stands completely helpless at the grave. Here his boastings are silenced. But the Author of life can restore life. The Divine power manifested in our Lord's resurrection we find sometimes ascribed to God the Father (Ephesians 1:20), sometimes to the Son (Mark 14:58). "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). 3. Complete. (1) Christ arose in perfect power. The cross and the grave left no marks of weakness upon him. His omnipotence was untainted. (2) He has reigned since in power above. (3) He works in power today on earth through his Word and Spirit. III. THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THOUGH IN CONTRAST, ARE IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION. They are in point of time. A few hours only separated the weakness of the cross from the power of the restoration. But there is real dependence also. In a certain sense the one was the natural result of the other. Without so perfect a crucifixion there could not have been so triumphant a resurrection. Christ was perfect alike when he was in weakness and when he was in power. Had there been any less "weakness" in the death, there had been less "power" in the resurrection. The humiliation was, in its order, as truly glorious as the exaltation. So with us - if we are abased with Christ here we shall be glorified with him hereafter. We have the cross - must have the cross - if we would have the crown. - H. Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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