WE’RE ALL ON A JOURNEY of the ‘self.’ As Christians, we are on a spiritual journey, one that Jesus tells us has a cost. “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33) This is a journey from selfishness to selflessness. Paul elaborates on this, explaining “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3)
This has a great deal to do with coming to a fixed foundational understanding of our own identity, our true spiritual identity. This self-knowledge for Jesus-followers is not first found within us, but beyond us and above us. It is found in identifying with Jesus and his life, death, burial, and resurrection to new life. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4) This is a profound revelation; in this life, there can be no greater. And with it comes an entirely new criteria that determines what we value in life. One of these values is the importance we place on our relationships with others.
There is an exceedingly tender illustration of this in Paul’s life, expressed in his second letter to the Corinthian church. Unlike the stern qualities of the disciplines that Paul brought to bear upon the church in his first letter, this one exudes a sweet and gentle heartfelt connection to the body of Christ in this church. Mid-way through the letter, Paul says “Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have exploited no one. I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.” (2 Cor. 7:2-4) Paul refers to the deep emotional support he has had from this church. He had experienced great struggles and deep discouragement. “We were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.” (2 Cor. 7:5) But the Corinthian church sent Paul a message through Titus. “He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.” (2 Cor. 7:7)
Throughout Paul’s letters we get an actual sense of him as a flesh and blood man, subject to the same experiences and ranges of emotion that we feel. His reality in spirit, soul, and body is matched by our own desire to actualize those same characteristics in our everyday life.
We may never evangelize the nations or encounter the extreme trials, including his anecdotal martyr’s death, as he did, but we have the same Lord. And we have the same Spirit that Paul writes so eloquently about. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Cor. 12:13, 27) And as part of this body, we are called by Jesus to “Deny yourselves and take up your cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) It is in this denial of self through death to the former way of life that our new identity is shaped and set in motion. This is true for every true Christ-follower. And the force of that motion propels us forward and heavenward. We are on a journey to a different realm that begins here but is never-ending in heaven. And we are all on the same journey together; in this we take and give comfort.
Our previous journey—the natural man clawing his or her way through the jungle of life—led all of us into places of the brokenness of sins and wounds. With this always came the desire for isolation; if we held ourselves away from others, they could not inflict pain in whatever permutation it administers wounds to psyche or spirit, soul or body.
But the spiritual man is different by exponential orders of being. The follower of Jesus has experienced healing, and in so doing may perhaps become a *wounded healer. And each of us has our highs and lows, our struggles with life. Sometimes we are strong and filled with purpose, sometimes we are brought low by age or injury, sins or wounds. We are learning to be both givers and takers of the life of Christ shared with others, “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Cor. 1:4)
This only becomes possible by opening ourselves up to the work of God in our souls and spirits. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” says Jesus. (Matt. 5:3-4) He adds, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-29) What we have received in Christ we are called to extend to our fellow sojourners. Paul says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” (Eph. 4:32)
We find this fellowship of comfort from a shared other-world view. Paul says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:1-2) He adds, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, forgive one another. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. And whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Col. 3:12-17)
May we look up to Christ, and look out for each other.
Q. Are my wounds healed, or is there still some bleeding?
* Henri Nouwen, “The Wounded Healer,” – 1972.
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