The encouragement of Jesus in a life of suffering

Having watched the premiere of The Chosen Season 3, the closing scene where Little James and Jesus interact about James’ desire to be healed of his physical impairment is powerful and touching.

It’s a massive encouragement to so many of us who do not have our prayers answered the way we’d like them to be.

When quizzed by Little James as to why he hasn’t already been healed, The Chosen’s Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) responds by saying, “because I trust you . . . So many people need healing in order to believe in me, or they need healing because their hearts are so sick . . .” implying that Little James already has a strong, trusting heart.  He continues to say that Little James’ faith is such that he will be an even more powerful witness to the masses in not being healed the way he would prefer.  Of course, James is a predecessor to the Apostle Paul, who describes this very situation in 2 Corinthians 12.

To recap a little on what Paul says, he contends with the Corinthians that he boasts only in Christ.  That, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,” given that, like for Little James, he had pleaded with the Lord to take the “messenger of Satan” away from him, the “thorn in the flesh” that tormented him.  But he had heard clearly from the Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Paul had learned to “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties [for Christ’s sake].”

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The most glorious thing about the Christian faith, apart from the grace of God that forgives our sin, is the upside-down reality of God’s strength in our weakness.  It truly is the answer to suffering and every other struggle we will ever have.

What this scene between Jesus and Little James shows us is sometimes we are a greater witness for the power and glory of God in not being healed, in not having our prayers answered, in not getting our way.  Because as we continue to look to the heavens, acknowledging God has all power, but that God has also chosen not to relieve us, our faith radiates as great.  AND we connect with the vast majority of humanity who are in the same boat.

Yes, we are a testament to all of those like us, and that’s the majority of the world!

We trample a faith that says you can “name it and claim it.”  The only thing in the Christian faith that can be “named and claimed” is the only thing of true importance, and that is salvation.

But in our weakness, in that place of humility we have been placed, our living and breathing and walking and talking is a testament to the glory of God.  We are ordinary souls.  God in the heavens is reaching down into the earth to speak to ordinary souls, not to extraordinary ones.  There is only ONE extraordinary one.  All the rest of us are equals.

When our weaknesses are on display, and people know who we stand for, and that is Christ, we give them permission to display their weaknesses too.  And what happens when we display our weaknesses with one another, not trying to pretend to be greater than we are?

We are an encouragement to each other, and we allow each other to be ourselves.

We can be home with one another whilst we are away from home on this earth.

The premium really is about safety and about identity.  Being able to be safe in our own skin, not to be judged nor condemned, but accepted, valued, recognised, and appreciated for who we are, without needing to be any different than we already are; that’s what we all need.

Little James in The Chosen is a more compelling witness than Simon is, even if Simon is more impressive to look at.  The Chosen’s Jesus says to Little James, “you are going to do more for me than most people ever dream . . .”

God uses the more ordinary people to do the more extraordinary things.

We need to embrace those things we do not like about our own lives and our own journey.

Accepting the things in life that we cannot change.

There are greater things to focus on, and when we get to that place of praise for what we have, for the gifts we’ve been given, for the blessings that have already been bestowed, then we will radiate a quality that will attract people to God’s name.

When we get to a place where God is all that matters, we find we have transcended even ourselves.