IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIECNE BIBLE LESSON August 4, 2008 Issue

THE PARADOX OF POWER

JOSEPH KAMENJU

THIS WEEK'S BIBLE LESSON on "Spirit" explores Christian healing from the standpoint of God's omnipotence and omnipresence.

Section III states, "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty" (I Chron. 29:11, citation 6). Then, paradoxically, in the Lesson's Golden Text, Spirit's majesty comes "not by might, nor by power" (Zech. 4:6). The first sentence of the Responsive Reading—"I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:14)—suggests a solution to the paradox. It's when we go on bended knees to God, in meekness and humility, that we gain true power.

For me, the story of Nicodemus (see John 3, Sect. IV) clearly illustrates this "mystery" of power in human meekness. Nicodemus, a member of the powerful Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus to discover the source of the Master's clearly evident healing power. Jesus tells him that one must be "born again"—perhaps be as helpless and trusting as a newborn. But viewing Jesus' counsel only in physical terms, Nicodemus is confused. He cannot see how in weakness, one can be strong. But all along, Jesus has been teaching this very point: In tenderness, humility, and childlikeness, might is found. He preached, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3, cit. 10).

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