Paradoxology
January 19, 2010
The words of Jesus are sometimes absurd, often apparently self-contradictory, and always difficult. His words are never easy because they always strike at our perverted values and exalted idols. This confounds some, enrages others and by the grace of God leads many to faith and repentance. The things Jesus said are paradoxical, and very true. But the paradox of his parables and preaching is ultimately a doxology - words of praise pointing to the glory of the gospel.
Take the Beatitudes for example. In unpacking who the "blessed" truly are Jesus upends the world's most basic values by claiming that the blessed are those the world would view as cursed.
Jesus said those who find true happiness are those who are poor in spirit-- who recognize their severe spiritual poverty and approach God without any confidence in their own person. This cuts against our innate hope in our own moral and religious performance, or at least a belief in our own potential. Those who would be truly happy must see their poverty, their total depravity, and embrace it.
He then tells us that only those who mourn who can find real happiness. This is an absurdity on the surface, and can only make sense in the gospel, for unless we mourn our fallen condition, and loathe our sins we will never be led to repentance. It is only along this path that we find the comfort Jesus promises. Comfort that comes through the forgiveness of sins. And yet, it is the pain of dealing with our sin, the mourning itself, that steers so many clear of the work of repentance. If you would find true joy, you must first mourn.
"Blessed are the meek," Jesus said, which confirms the suspicions of many who think he was an advocate for being a weak pushover, a loser who stands at the back of the line and never achieves his potential because he is too busy letting others go ahead of him. But meekness isn't weakness. It is strength restrained; power under control. Jesus, the blue collar tradesman was no weakling. Jesus the preacher who physically removed spiritual shysters from the temple was no push over. The Son of God who established His Kingdom through his life, death and resurrection is infinite in power, and yet he humbled himself and surrendered his life for the redemption of many. Jesus tells us that, in the end, it is the meek who will inherit the earth and dwell securely for all eternity.
He said it is "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" who will find satisfaction, but not in themselves, politics or religion. Three of the greatest hopes (idols) for the optimists among us for justice to reign. But even the realist knows that righteousness will never be the experienced of any individual, culture or government. We are incurably corrupt. This is where the gospel rights the great wrong of the world's depravity and damnation. Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are not wishing on a star, but are guaranteed satisfaction only the gospel can deliver. Those who hunger for righteousness for themselves are satisfied in receiving the righteousness of Christ by faith as a gift. And our longing for injustice to be vanquished and justice to reign is fulfilled in the coming Kingdom.
It is the merciful who are blessed of God and receive mercy themselves. The world often views mercy as an unaffordable luxury, and character flaw that will come back to betray you for extending kindness to the undeserving. But here is Jesus telling us all that mercy makes us happy as it reflects the gospel we have come to believe.
The pure in heart, those whose faith is not merely external, or intellectual, but internal and connected to their affections, they are the ones who will see God. It is the peace makers who are called the sons of God, not those who wage war with the world's weapons. And those who are persecuted, they are heirs of the Kingdom. Yes, Jesus says, happy are those who experience opposition for following him.
This is the paradox, or the paradoxology, that Jesus essentially says, "Blessed are the cursed." For true happiness is found by those who walk through what the world considers a curse, for the sake of the gospel. The beatitudes ultimately show us that the Christian life is a happy one, but not in a way the world can understand. It is a life of joy and peace that comes through faith in the incarnation, poverty, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, and compels us to follow him.
Though Jesus was not "poor in spirit," it was for our sake that he became poor - that we might become rich. And he did in fact mourn over his own people who rejected him. He was meek, and served sinners. His hunger for righteousness was fulfilled in his own passive and active obedience to God the Father. His mercy is deep, extending forgiveness to the undeserving. He was pure in heart, sincere and committed to the path of suffering on behalf of all who would believe in him, and by his sacrifice through persecution he made peace between God and man.
Joe Thorn is Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL.
Joe Thorn, "Paradoxology", Reformation21 (January 2010)
© Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Inc, 1716 Spruce St Philadelphia PA 19103 USA.
This article was originally published in reformation21.org, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The Alliance calls the twenty-first century church to a modern reformation through broadcasting, events, and publishing. This article and additional resources can be found at AllianceNet.org or by calling 800-956-2644.
This article may be duplicated in its entirety and without edit, including this full disclaimer for personal, small group, non-commercial use. No more than 200 copies may be made. No electronic use beyond email is permitted. Any use other then those listed herein are forbidden without prior written permission. All rights reserved.
Take the Beatitudes for example. In unpacking who the "blessed" truly are Jesus upends the world's most basic values by claiming that the blessed are those the world would view as cursed.
Jesus said those who find true happiness are those who are poor in spirit-- who recognize their severe spiritual poverty and approach God without any confidence in their own person. This cuts against our innate hope in our own moral and religious performance, or at least a belief in our own potential. Those who would be truly happy must see their poverty, their total depravity, and embrace it.
He then tells us that only those who mourn who can find real happiness. This is an absurdity on the surface, and can only make sense in the gospel, for unless we mourn our fallen condition, and loathe our sins we will never be led to repentance. It is only along this path that we find the comfort Jesus promises. Comfort that comes through the forgiveness of sins. And yet, it is the pain of dealing with our sin, the mourning itself, that steers so many clear of the work of repentance. If you would find true joy, you must first mourn.
"Blessed are the meek," Jesus said, which confirms the suspicions of many who think he was an advocate for being a weak pushover, a loser who stands at the back of the line and never achieves his potential because he is too busy letting others go ahead of him. But meekness isn't weakness. It is strength restrained; power under control. Jesus, the blue collar tradesman was no weakling. Jesus the preacher who physically removed spiritual shysters from the temple was no push over. The Son of God who established His Kingdom through his life, death and resurrection is infinite in power, and yet he humbled himself and surrendered his life for the redemption of many. Jesus tells us that, in the end, it is the meek who will inherit the earth and dwell securely for all eternity.
He said it is "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" who will find satisfaction, but not in themselves, politics or religion. Three of the greatest hopes (idols) for the optimists among us for justice to reign. But even the realist knows that righteousness will never be the experienced of any individual, culture or government. We are incurably corrupt. This is where the gospel rights the great wrong of the world's depravity and damnation. Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are not wishing on a star, but are guaranteed satisfaction only the gospel can deliver. Those who hunger for righteousness for themselves are satisfied in receiving the righteousness of Christ by faith as a gift. And our longing for injustice to be vanquished and justice to reign is fulfilled in the coming Kingdom.
It is the merciful who are blessed of God and receive mercy themselves. The world often views mercy as an unaffordable luxury, and character flaw that will come back to betray you for extending kindness to the undeserving. But here is Jesus telling us all that mercy makes us happy as it reflects the gospel we have come to believe.
The pure in heart, those whose faith is not merely external, or intellectual, but internal and connected to their affections, they are the ones who will see God. It is the peace makers who are called the sons of God, not those who wage war with the world's weapons. And those who are persecuted, they are heirs of the Kingdom. Yes, Jesus says, happy are those who experience opposition for following him.
This is the paradox, or the paradoxology, that Jesus essentially says, "Blessed are the cursed." For true happiness is found by those who walk through what the world considers a curse, for the sake of the gospel. The beatitudes ultimately show us that the Christian life is a happy one, but not in a way the world can understand. It is a life of joy and peace that comes through faith in the incarnation, poverty, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, and compels us to follow him.
Though Jesus was not "poor in spirit," it was for our sake that he became poor - that we might become rich. And he did in fact mourn over his own people who rejected him. He was meek, and served sinners. His hunger for righteousness was fulfilled in his own passive and active obedience to God the Father. His mercy is deep, extending forgiveness to the undeserving. He was pure in heart, sincere and committed to the path of suffering on behalf of all who would believe in him, and by his sacrifice through persecution he made peace between God and man.
Joe Thorn is Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL.
Joe Thorn, "Paradoxology", Reformation21 (January 2010)
© Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Inc, 1716 Spruce St Philadelphia PA 19103 USA.
This article was originally published in reformation21.org, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The Alliance calls the twenty-first century church to a modern reformation through broadcasting, events, and publishing. This article and additional resources can be found at AllianceNet.org or by calling 800-956-2644.
This article may be duplicated in its entirety and without edit, including this full disclaimer for personal, small group, non-commercial use. No more than 200 copies may be made. No electronic use beyond email is permitted. Any use other then those listed herein are forbidden without prior written permission. All rights reserved.
