Let Christ Be Seen

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.”

Paul, the Example. That could have been his title although we favor the apostle title better. But this would have been the title that Paul would have selected for himself. Not as a perfect example, or even as a worthy example. As an example of a life that is totally turned over to Christ.

Paul’s expression to his young converts seems to be that nothing in him was adequate to the task for which he was called. For Paul, a fifth degree red belt Rabbi, that was pretty stiff language. But he felt that those things were loss in approaching a life of witness, a moment to talk about Jesus Christ. Not that he didn’t use his exemplary knowledge and obvious oratorical skills at times, but Paul instead is instructing here. He’s telling these new, immature, malleable Christians that nothing in them can save lives. They are not the reason that people will be in heaven. In fact, their brilliant words and technique might even mask the greatness of Jesus Christ. Paul is saying to them, “Do as I do. Tell the story. Make sure the story of Jesus Christ, his crucifixion, his burial and resurrection, get told any time you say anything. Don’t hide it by standing in front of it, dazzling people with your tongue or your intellect.”

We often get in the way of the gospel, imagining that the Holy Spirit is taking the day off when we speak to others. God certainly wants us to use the gifts he has given us to teach, preach, or otherwise reach people with the good news. But his Holy Spirit is already working in the hearts of those people to tug and convict. His work alone will bring those hearts to Christ.

Paul also is saying something else here. He’s expressing his constant submission to Jesus Christ and his desire to know him better. In virtually every letter written by Paul, he talks about his hunger to know more about Christ. In that respect, Paul is the ultimate disciple. He knows what a disciple does. He was one, as a child, studying under a rabbi, one of the most gifted students, favored by the great rabbi Gamaliel. Only the best of the best would get the honor of being a disciple of Gamaliel. Paul wanted to learn everything possible about Gamaliel’s interpretation of the law. He yearned to be close to the rabbi. So, it’s no great surprise that he now had total attention turned to the Messiah. This was the one about whom the prophets spoke. This was the savior. He is Christ the Lord. His life fulfilled the prophecies. Who among even the greatest rabbis would not be at his feet, struggling to get close to him, to hear his every word, to pick up every gesture, to know every nuance?

Great teachers are great examples. Follow me. Do as I do.