H. Michael Brewer
Crescent Springs Presbyterian Church
9 July 2006
SUFFICIENT GRACE
II Corinthians 12:1-10
Paul founded the church in the city of Corinth, got them off to what he hoped was a good start, and then
moved on to other mission fields. After Paul's departure, outsiders came into the Corinthian church calling
themselves apostles and undermining Paul's teachings, offering a different version of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
The Corinthian church began to embrace these new teachings. Paul is deeply hurt by this defection
because Paul's enemies have attacked his credentials as an apostle. They have said that Paul can't be
trusted to properly preach the gospel of Jesus. So in the closing chapters of II Corinthians, Paul reluctantly
defends himself. The false apostles have made all kinds of claims for themselves, and Paul sets out to prove
that he can match them in every way. With evident sarcasm, Paul writes, “I am not in the least inferior to these
super-apostles.”
Paul reminds the Corinthians of his Jewish heritage, his calling by Christ, his great efforts and
sufferings for the cause of Christ, and his refusal to accept any money from the Corinthians while he was with
them.
Paul is uncomfortable blowing his own horn. As he begins to list his spiritual credentials, he becomes
so uncomfortable that he stops speaking in the first person. Paul is still talking about his own experiences,
but he does it in an odd way.
To paraphrase, Paul says, “Here's something that could be boasted about. I know a 'certain Christian'
who fourteen years ago was lifted into heaven into the presence of God! He heard things in Paradise that may
not be spoken out loud to any human being. That man might well brag about such a vision, but I will not boast.
If I must boast, then let me boast of my weakness.”
And now Paul reveals himself as he rarely does in his letters. He says, “To keep me from becoming
puffed up by my spiritual experiences, I have been given a thorn in the flesh to torment me.”
No one can say with certainty exactly what Paul's thorn in the flesh was. Various scholars have
suggested epilepsy, clinical depression, an eye disease, debilitating headaches, or perhaps some form of
malaria. It appears that Paul's thorn was a physical ailment, and a recurring problem. It may have been quite
painful, since “thorn” could also be translated as “a stake in the flesh.” There are also hints that Paul's illness
was in some way repulsive and demeaning. We're not surprised that on three separate occasions, Paul
prays that Christ will heal him and pluck this thorn from his flesh.
Paul's prayers are answered, but not as Paul had hoped. The apostle is granted a special message.
Christ says to the suffering Paul, “My grace is sufficient is for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
“So,” says Paul, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may
dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for
the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”
What Paul has to say here will not answer every question we have about pain and hardship. In general,
I don't believe the Bible works that way, as if there were one, single answer which would make sense of all of
our problems. Rather, the Bible offers a wardrobe of answers, and only when we try them on can we discover
which ones will fit us and our particular circumstances. So let's take a few moments to “try on” Paul's ideas.
First of all, Paul would say that whatever thorn is tormenting you, maybe it's not a curse. Maybe it's not a
punishment. Maybe it is a stern grace intended to do you good. Mind you, Paul is not at all sentimental about
his thorn in the flesh. It hurts and he wants to get rid of it. And yet, Paul can also give thanks that this thorn has
kept him humble and taught him to rely more completely on Christ. This thorn may well be a messenger from
Satan, but even the powers of hell must end up serving heaven, rebel how they will. In all things, is God not
working for our good?
Far be it from me to point to someone else's pain and say, “There is a blessing in disguise!”
Nevertheless, when I am willing to take a closer look at my own griefs and hurts, I find that at least some of
the time I can discern good things that have come from bad, and seasons of growth that sprouted from the
scorched earth of despair and disappointment. What about you?
Paul would also say that human weakness can make room for the strength of Christ. Recall the
Pharisee who stood in the Temple and proudly reminded God of his many good deeds. “I thank you, God, that
I am not like that tax collector over there.” The tax collector, meanwhile, presses his face to the floor and
moans over and over, “O Lord God, have mercy on me, for I am a sinner!” Truly I tell you, the one who found
God that day was not the Pharisee who stood on his own goodness, but the sinner who confessed his
weakness.
Sometimes, it is only when we have reached the utter end of our strength and exhausted our last
resource that our empty hands are ready to receive the inexhaustible riches of Christ.
In a similar vein, Paul says that our weaknesses bear witness to the power of Christ. Paul's rivals in
Corinth accuse the apostle of being a poor public speaker. They say Paul is unimpressive in person, and not
much to look at. Paul admits that his detractors are right. “But this,” says Paul, “is the proof that my
accomplishments are not mine at all, but the work of Christ whose power is revealed through my weakness.”
You see, when all is said and done, our weakness is no match for the strength of Christ. This is the
part of Paul's message that applies to every one of us in every circumstance. It is in our weakest places and
our hardest moments that we can most surely count on the power of our Lord to be with and to see us
through.
The grace of Christ is sufficient for physical pain, for sickness, for weariness. The grace of Christ is
sufficient for opposition and obstacles, for grief and suffering, for struggle and challenge. The grace of Christ
is sufficient for loss and regret, for guilt, for failure. The grace of Christ is sufficient to see us through life, and
sufficient to see us through death.
David Livingstone, a missionary to Africa in the 1800's, penetrated so deeply into the bush that no one
knew where he was. Henry Stanley was sent from England and eventually found the missing missionary alive
and well. He was able to do so because Stanley had a wealthy sponsor. Before Stanley sailed for Africa, his
sponsor told him, “In my name, draw a thousand pounds from the bank to provide your equipment. When that
money is used up draw another thousand pounds. And when that is gone draw another. Draw as much as
you need. I will not run out of money.”
So Christ deals with us. Christ has called us. We have a life to live in Christ and work to do for Christ,
and we may draw freely from Christ every day to live that life and carry on that work. Christ will not run short, for
we have his promise: “My grace is sufficient for you, and my power is made perfect in your weakness.”
Soli Deo Gloria!