Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

The Apostle Paul may have witnessed Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and his dying moments. If this is so, he would have carried those memories with him all his life.

There is a distinct difference here in how Paul preached to the believers in Corinth. When Paul came to them, he preached, as he said, in “weakness, fear, and trembling.” (1 Corinthians 2:3)1 Not with “eloquence,” or an attitude of superiority.

Paul did not seek to convert people with his great learning, his clever use of words, or his dynamic personality. Instead, he preached with a very different emphasis. Even as he spoke, he was weak and fearful, to the point of trembling.

Paul was not an actor playing a character on a stage. If that were the case, he would have been guilty of a different kind of “cleverness.” In other words, he would have led his listeners to believe he was a weak, trembling man. Then, like many of the Pharisees, Paul would have been just another one of their group, whom Jesus called “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13) because of their long prayers designed to impress their listeners. (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47).

Now, what did Paul mean when he also said he would only preach “Jesus Christ and him crucified”? Setting Paul’s words here alongside his other letters may shed some light on the issue. To be “crucified,” as Jesus had been, would mean a terribly long, drawn-out torture. First of all, in its anticipation, the idea led to a horrible fear, which swallowed all reason. In its execution, the pain would cause intense trembling, as the victim struggled to breathe moment by moment until finally, after many hours of torture, he succumbed to a dark and desperate weakness, at last collapsing entirely and dying by suffocation. In such a condition of prolonged suffering, I cannot imagine the suffering person would ever pause to think: “How can I impress this crowd with my eloquence while I’m dying?’’

The Apostle Paul may have witnessed Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and his dying moments. If this is so, he would have carried those memories with him all his life.

Furthermore, Paul may have been afflicted with some serious illness. This ailment may be what Paul meant when, at another time, he told the Corinthians that “I was given a thorn in my flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7). This “thorn” could have been some tropical fever. Various diseases like malaria and dengue fever exist among people who live in warm and humid climates, and they can leave the victim weak and trembling. I have witnessed just such a case in Jamaica.

Such an illness would lead Paul to understand the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote:

Three times I pleaded with the Lord [Jesus Christ] to take it [this “thorn”] away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Then Paul added, for his own part:

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Before this, Saul the Pharisee had hunted down many followers of Jesus, sent some to prison, and oversaw the execution of others. As stated before, he may even have witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, the leader of this movement. However, while he was on one more mission, this time on the way to Damascus, to find more “heretics,” he was blinded by a great light, and he fell to the ground, where he heard a voice: “Saul, why do you persecute me?” And then the voice identified himself: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4-5).

At this point, the life of the old “Saul” came to an end. Now he was no longer “Saul,” but a new man soon known as “Paul the Apostle.” His mission was to bring the good news of Jesus and his Kingdom to the world. In other words, he would preach about “Jesus Christ,” the Son of God who had been “crucified” on behalf of all believers, and was then raised from the dead, to sit on the right hand of his Father in heaven, and oversee his disciples, especially Paul, as they witnessed to Jesus as the true Messiah.

Now we may ask again, “What does Paul mean when he refers to his preaching about ‘Christ and him crucified’?”

Is he remembering the many times during his travels and his activities when he almost died?

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

So, as Paul remembered his illnesses and many dangers, and the numerous times he had almost died, he may have considered how he might reach the believers in Corinth, especially their “leaders.” He wanted to help them see that there was more to the gospel than making a reputation for yourself, sitting in the highest seat, making decisions, and giving orders.

Paul’s thoughts went to the gospel’s centerpiece, that is, “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” He may have thought of an approach like this to this problem in Corinth:

Brothers and sisters, I see that your community has been divided into antagonistic camps led by strong personalities, and I am sad that this is the case. The men who are dividing the One Body are more interested in building a reputation and developing a following than in teaching and instructing others. They spend their time trying to find fault with others and arguing over words. They spend more time gossiping and criticizing one another than helping one another. They spend even more time tearing down what others have labored to build.

So, after observing and hearing these men, I have decided to teach them, and the rest of you, the simplest facts of our faith. I will teach you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and how he prayed with tears falling to the ground, and how he cried and struggled, and how he laid down his life for us. A wondrous story about his love.

I have seen Christ’s sufferings, and following my Lord and King, I have experienced more suffering than you can ever imagine. I have walked in my Lord’s footsteps, felt his terrible pains, and understood some measure of his love, for all of us. Yes, I can tell you all about Christ and his torture when he was nailed to a tree. He came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. So, I must tell you that I may not impress any of you with my appearance or my voice. But I will show you, as best I can, the glory and beauty and peace to be found in our Savior and his Kingdom.

While you all are trying to gain a following among the naive and gullible members, I will try to show you Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I will try to show you how to follow him, putting away your pride and serving your brothers and sisters with love and kindness. It may be all that I can do, but I pray that it will be enough.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3).

George Booker,
Austin Leander Ecclesia, TX