Word of Encouragement (4/22/2021)
We are reflecting on Paul’s prayer in 2 Cor. 1:3-4: “We are reflecting on Paul’s prayer in 2 Cor. 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
We’ve been looking at God’s title, “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But that’s not the whole title Paul uses here. That part is followed by “…the Father of mercies and God of all comfort....” This title has for parts: “God...”; “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”; “Father of mercies”; “God of all comfort.” These parts are compiled in a chiastic structure (ABB’A’):
A the God [of our Lord Jesus Christ]
B and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
B’ the Father of mercies and
A’ God of all comfort
What does this crisscrossing parallel structure show? The parallel between “our Lord Jesus Christ” and “mercies” and “all comfort”: if God is “[the] Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” and “the Father of mercies,” then “our Lord Jesus Christ” is identified with “mercies”; if God is “the God [of our Lord Jesus Christ]” and “[the] God of all comfort,” then “our Lord Jesus Christ” is identified with “all comfort.”
This structure shows that Jesus is the Instrument, or Channel, through whom God’s mercies and God’s all comfort are available to us. Why should God be merciful to you? Why should God comfort you? The reason does not lie in you at all, does it? Do you have any right to demand God’s mercy when you are a sinner? Even your misery and troubles cannot arouse God’s mercy and comfort because you are a sinner. You deserve every woe, every hardship you experience, and much more. If God should have any mercy upon you, if God should be moved to bring comfort to you, it is only because Jesus has forgiven your sins and reconciled you to God. We who were once children of wrath have been made children of God, recipients of God’s infinite mercy because, only because, of Jesus Christ.
However, Paul’s words tell us much more than simply, “God blesses us because Jesus died for our sins.” The grammatical construction of Paul’s blessing communicates the gospel reality that Jesus Himself is the mercies of God and all of God’s comfort. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him...” (2 Cor. 1:20). Because this is true, we can look to God for (all kinds of) mercies and all comfort. There is no situation, for which there is no mercy of God available to us; there is no affliction, for which there is no comfort from God. Therefore, nothing is more foolish than to stay away from God and not to pray for His mercies and comfort. Let us draw near to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort!