III. Jesus falls for the first time
Jesus fell under his cross. He continues to fall. Jesus is not the conquering hero who undergoes suffering with staunch determination and an iron will. No, he never became the proud self-possessed leader who wanted to lead humanity to the great victory over the powers of darkness. When he had grown into maturity, he humbled himself by joining penitent men and women and receiving baptism in the river Jordan. It was then that he heard that voice deeply entering his heart: “This is my Son, the Beloved, my favor rests on Him.” (Matt.3:17) That voice carried him through life and shielded him from bitterness, jealousy, resentment and revenge. He always remained a child and said to his followers: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.18:3) Jesus is the innocent child falling under the heavy burden of the cross of human anguish—powerless, weak, and very vulnerable. But there we can touch the mystery of the compassionate heart of God that embraces all children, around as well as within us. . . . Jesus wants me to discover that beyond all emotions of rejection and abandonment there is love, real love, lasting love, love that comes from a God who became flesh and who will never leave his children alone.
Excerpt from Henri Nouwen’s Walk with Jesus, Orbis Books. Posted with the kind permission of the publisher.
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February 26th, 2008 @ 7:49 am
During the first 20 years of my 40 years as a pastor I was plagued with the “weakness” of depression. But now I’ve learned that more pastors (probably priests, too) suffer from this than are willing to admit it. My experience has enabled me to counsel others in similar situations - if they are willing to admit their need (always a prerequisite, of course, for receiving help)…
February 21st, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
For me, being vulnerable means that I no longer have a sense of what is appropriate and what isn’t, I am impetuous in trying to help others without any thought of my needs or abilities. I know this, and I know it is due to a neurological disease that is slowly eating away at my brain. In other words, I am slowly losing some of my cognitive skills as well as my ability to stand and walk more than 15 feet in a narrow hall. I am well aware that wrong words, impetuous attempts to help that turn into foibles, or my mixed up words, spills, falls, etc., scare my daughter with whom I live.
She told me not long ago that if anything happened to my husband, she would have to put me in a care home. My husband has a terminal condition. And so I feel very very vulnerable. But with the yoke that Jesus offers me, I can carry on each day almost as though it were any other day. Today I spent the afternoon in a rocker with my sleeping 22 mos. grandson in my arms. I prayed and then slept with him in that chair. When vulnerability connects with Jesus I am at peace.
February 21st, 2008 @ 9:31 am
This is a really powerful passage from Nouwen’s book, with lots to consider in it. What strikes me right now is that Jesus must have had a much stronger memory or focus than me. I too have had moments when I knew absolutely for certain of God’s love for me and his acceptance of me, but I do not manage to consistently live in the power of that knowledge, that realization. I’d like to know how Jesus did that.
February 20th, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
This might seem crazy but somehow inside me I believe my friend herself is eliciting this committed relationship from me, even though she doesn’t talk and all the feelings shared are very subtle and, on the surface, others might not be able to be aware of it. She’s such a blessing!!!!! I believe learning to be vulnerable makes us more human.
February 20th, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
page 22, second paragraph “Or will they discover that beyond and behind all human manipulations there are hands that hold them safe and offer a love that has no conditions?” An elderly woman from our church had a brain hemorrhage or stroke or something. Her one daughter has many problems and is very emotionally and physically absent, her husband deceased. Therefore the social services arranged for her to be under a legal guardianship and somehow through all of this she came to be on a ventilator and a feeding tube. She doesn’t speak and has eye contact and she’s been in this situation for five years now. I visit weekly and also visit with our Pastor. The times when I have prayed that God release her from the suffering she might be going through and the times there has been the answer from God that her life continues, that there is meaning and purpose for each breath, each minute, each day, have brought me in touch with my own vulnerabilities, my own powerless, my own fears of suffering, my own doubts, and brought me to the place where I want to offer her myself love with no conditions, brings me to the place where I can begin to feel the stirrings of childlike faith and know even more firmly that my friend and I are held safe in God’s hands, even beyond and behind all human manipulations.
February 19th, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Weakness is not a recognized character strength of a leader. Vulnerability is something to be eschewed. Falling under the weight and penalty of sin and the cross – so that Jesus can continually identify with us in our weak, fallen state. In what areas has God given you the gift of weakness, vulnerability, falling rather the steps of a self-assured?