Paul has experienced comfort from God himself in the midst of affliction—and he knows that this has happened so that he might be a comfort to others. God’s servants will face difficulty, but we know that God will minister His grace to us that we might be a blessing to others.
Everything Jesus did was moving toward the cross. His miracles revealed who he was. His teaching announced why he came. His suffering accomplished what only he could do.
The values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ are upside down and backwards when compared to the values of this world. Against the backdrop of a world where might is right—where we press our cause and make our case—Jesus commends to us the value of childlike humility. He calls each of us to have that childlike humility as we approach him, as we approach the ugly reality of temptation and sin, and as we approach one another.
Jesus is the Son of God—the divine prince of heaven. Matthew makes that so clear to us on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we read on in Matthew, what is so very striking is the way in which Jesus exercises his heavenly authority and power. We see him showing mercy to the suffering, submitting himself to the cross as he prepares to go to Jerusalem, and in his interactions, taking care to avoid offense. Jesus shows us a unique kind of authority here—a humble authority. He will use his power to save us—and he will show us what it looks...
Jesus is the Son of God—the divine prince of heaven. Matthew makes that so clear to us on the Mount of Transfiguration. As we read on in Matthew, what is so very striking is the way in which Jesus exercises his heavenly authority and power. We see him showing mercy to the suffering, submitting himself to the cross as he prepares to go to Jerusalem, and in his interactions, taking care to avoid offense. Jesus shows us a unique kind of authority here—a humble authority. He will use his power to save us—and he will show us what it looks...
