Jesus is Sufficient: A Devotion for Staff Meeting

Detail from a medieval stained glass window in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Photo by Lawerence, OP. https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7667661950

Reading

“Who is telling us, actually, that all worldly problems should and can be solved? Perhaps for God the unsolved nature of these problems is more important than their solution—namely, because it points to the original sin of the human race and to God’s redemption. Perhaps the problems of humanity are so involved, so wrongly stated, that they really are unsolvable…. The thinking that starts with human problems and looks for solutions on that basis must be overcome. It is unbiblical. The way of Jesus Christ goes not from the world to God but from God to the world, and therefore so does the way of all Christian thinking. That means that the nature of the gospel does not consist in solving worldly problems, nor does the essential duty of the church. Yet it does not follow from this that the church has absolutely no duty in this regard…. The word of the church to the world can be none other than the word of God to the world, which is Jesus Christ and salvation in his name. God’s relationship to the world is defined in Jesus Christ; we know of no relationship of God to the world other than through Jesus Christ. Therefore, for the church, also, there is no relationship to the world other than through Jesus Christ—not from a natural law, a law of reason, or general human law. The proper relationship of the church to the world comes only from the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[1]

Reflection

I always struggle with healing stories in the scripture, particularly in Acts. In the Gospels, when Jesus heals someone, it’s easy for me to think, “Well, yeah—it’s Jesus!” But in Acts 3:6, St. Peter heals the man at the Beautiful Gate with such a powerful line: “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

Does this mean that I’m supposed to be able to heal people, too? I have never done such a work of grace. I’m sure that in my preaching and pastoral care, I have helped balm some spiritual wounds—but I have never healed someone physically.

And as I reflect on Bonhoeffer’s words from his Ethics, I’m reminded that St. Peter’s words are more relevant than I care to admit. The church may not be able to do miraculous healings, and we may not always have silver or gold, but we do have something to give: Jesus Christ.

We cannot fix all the world’s problems—that’s why we need Jesus. He can and he will one day. Until then, we do not turn a blind eye to the problems we can't fix. We still give what we can give: relationship to God through Jesus.

Sometimes Jesus feels like the overflowing cup from Psalm 23. He gives us “grace upon grace” (John 1:16). And yet, sometimes, when you’re with someone suffering, speaking the promises of Jesus feel paltry. To this, scripture still has something to say: “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9).

Sufficient—not abundant! Sometimes Jesus is not a feast, but a morsel of bread that all eat and are satisfied (cf. Matthew 14:20). Sometimes in our worldly problems, God is enough. It is enough to know that we can’t solve everything—this life is only a beginning, as Luther says—but we trust that God will solve everything on that good and faithful day. At times, that promise feels like a wonderful thing, but sometimes it is sufficient.

Thomas Merton once said, “You are in no position to issue commands, but you can speak words of hope.” We may not be able to fix everything; in fact, we may not have silver or gold, but we have the name of Jesus, and the hope that he gives us. Surely that is enough.

Prayer

Let us pray.

Lord God, help us to look from you to the world,

trusting that you are enough.

Don’t let us be discouraged.

Reframe all our thoughts through your divine eyes of compassion,

so we might meet every moment with faith sufficient

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

[1] Quoted in Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. I Want to Live These Days with You: A Year of Daily Devotions (p. 188). (Function). Kindle Edition. The actual citation comes DBW 6:356, 358.