Paul briefly hints at two distinct thought discussions but then veers back to focus on Jesus. We can’t help but wonder where this third heaven vision took place and speculate on what the “thorn” was in Paul’s side. I ponder why Paul would simply mention these topics if he wasn’t going to enlighten his audience. There must have been a purpose.
Witnessing the third heaven would have been extremely memorable, but Paul chose to keep those details to himself. We can only imagine what being in the presence of God would have been like. If only Paul had given us a few clues. But he did. He said it was “paradise” and things were “astounding.” Paul seems hesitant to share too much, and that’s okay. He’s given us hope and curiosity in what comes next. We want even more to see this exquisite place someday ourselves.
When it comes to the thorn in Paul’s side, it could have been an illness, a deformity, a bad relationship; we’ll never know. That’s okay, too, because we can all identify with something that nags at us and challenges our faith. Don’t we all walk around with some sort of thorn burrowing in our sides?
Paul said his thorn was a messenger from Satan to keep him from being proud. You can imagine that, with all the changed lives that Paul encountered, seeing churches grow and thrive after his preaching, it would be easy to take some credit for that. His “thorn” would have been the constant reminder of where all that success had come from.
How often have we bargained with God or asked him to take away something unpleasant in our lives? We can continue to ask, but if God has a purpose for that challenge, as he did for Paul, we might as well get used to being uncomfortable. The key to remember if we’re thinking about having a pity party about our own “thorn” is to remember that we are not abandoned. God is always with us.
My most favorite verse of this reading is verse 9. It speaks to how God stays near us. For Paul, God’s response to the request to take away the thorn was this: “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” His grace indeed. What else could we possibly need?
God’s grace has probably gotten you through some hard times without you even realizing it. Looking back on our lives, it’s easy, in retrospect, to see God moving when perhaps we couldn’t when we were stuck in our mess. When we can see those fingerprints of God, his power at work, we can only marvel at what he helped us accomplish. Why do we forget we have such a power available to us? Why do we ever worry?
Paul’s humility shines here. He continues to defend himself to his audience. His desire to lead well is clear. He wants his audience to succeed at being faithful followers. He doesn’t want to imagine that the Corinthian church will fall away or keep resisting the gospel. I wonder why he thinks they’re going to stay stuck in their sinfulness?
We’re all susceptible to sin because of our human condition.
We’re all flawed and weak creatures in need of a Savior. Thankfully, in his wisdom, God sent Jesus and unleashed his grace into our midst. Never forget that in our weakness, when we rely on the power of God, great things happen.
Let’s pray. Father, I am feeling weak and in need of your powerful hand to guide me, to heal me, and to empower me for the work you have set before me. I know that whatever thorn may be holding me back, it keeps me grounded and focused on the right thing. I pray that your message will go forth from my lips. Help me from being distracted and disillusioned by the evils of this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
