crucified through weakness

II Corinthians 13:4 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.

(Some get upset with hearing this, responding, like saying, "No way, man! My Jesus is not weak! He's God!"

However, this scripture is in no way implying that God is weak, or that he was a physically weak specimen of a man.

Nor is this scripture implying that he wasn't fully God.)

(But he that is all powerful had a plan, where he would take on flesh, and be able to die in that flesh, shedding his blood to take away sin:)

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

(So that our omnipotent God could thus be crucified through weakness, humility, meekness, and gentleness.)

(And that is just like our Jesus, who showed us this same pattern of his, in the apostle Paul, how Jesus works through weakness:)

II Corinthians 12:9a And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

(The LORD first showed us a glimpse, years ago, where he chose a man that was not strong or mighty in the flesh.

But when the Spirit came upon Samson, supernatural power overcame the enemy, but by the hands of a man with no strength of his own.

Others were pictured, whom, though they were not powerful, but by faith accomplished supernatural things of might and power:)

Hebrews 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

(So, when the Almighty took on flesh, he chose to do it the same way, as man, full of the Holy Ghost, and led by the Spirit in all things:)

Acts 10:38a How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

14a And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee:

(The law condemned us because of our sin, but Jesus came to condemn sin in the flesh:)

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son.

in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

(The Almighty humbled himself all the way down, to be a real man, when he took on flesh, and was even tempted like us, but he never sinned:)

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

(The all-powerful King of the universe was here amongst us, as a meek and lowly man:)

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(Even when he rode into Jerusalem as King, he clearly came very meek:)

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

(In the garden, Jesus suffered very much, where his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.

Jesus absolutely did NOT say, "Bring it on, I can handle this".

Instead, as a real man, facing horrible affliction, and a most miserable death, asked if it were possible for the cup to pass from him

However, even while facing all that, he still, as a man, in total humility, completely submitted himself to the will of the Father.)

Matthew 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

(Even in his youth, and throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus faced troubles, sorrow, and suffering as low as a man could be:)

Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

(Jesus told his disciples in advance, the things that were soon to happen to him, as he was about to be crucified through weakness:)

Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

(It was prophesied of the terrible things that they would do to his back, and face, as well as the shameful way he would be treated:)

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

(But this was the plan all along, that the Almighty would humble himself all the way down from the glories of heaven.

To humble himself down to taking on flesh, all the way down to the bloody crucifixion:)

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(The plan was for Jesus to be humbled down to take on flesh, in order to taste, experience, death for every person.

So that he could save them from the horrible condemnation of their sin, in a lake of fire forever.

And because he suffered all the same temptations that we suffer, but he never sinned, he can help and comfort us in our temptations:)

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

(As a man, Jesus of course had to even suffer the temptation to fear the coming scourging, crucifixion, and taking our sins on him, otherwise he wouldn't have been a real man.

Yet, as the perfect man, he feared the LORD, rather than succumb to the fear of man:)

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

(David prophesied of exactly what Jesus would be experiencing and thinking, while on the cross:)

Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

(It was prophesied that Jesus would be so beaten and mistreated, that his face would be injured beyond what his tormentors had done to any other man:)

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

(It was prophesied that Jesus would be weary, broken hearted, and all alone, for the final horrible few hours:)

Psalms 69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

(And it was prophesied that Jesus would actually experience death itself:)

Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

(So, Jesus died there on that cross:)

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

(By our God, coming down from heaven, taking on the flesh of a man, having our sins placed on him while hung on the cross,

and dying that bloody death, he was therefore able to destroy the power of death, for us, who were condemned to its destruction:)

(Yes, Jesus was crucified through weakness, but he rose from the dead by power:)

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

(Paul showed that the believers' resurrection is after the pattern of Jesus, that we die in weakness, but are raised in power:)

I Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

(Right before he ascended back to heaven, the same Jesus who was crucified in weakness, then said this to his disciples:)

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(It's amazing that Paul doesn't beseech the believers by the power of Christ, but by that meek and gentle Jesus who died for us:)

II Corinthians 10:1a Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,

(David, also, could have said it was the LORD's power that made David great, but instead, he said it was the LORD's gentleness:)

Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

(Until that day that we call on Jesus to save us, it's not by his anger, but rather by his goodness, Jesus is leading us to repent:)

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?