2 Corinthians 11:25; Once Was I Stoned

2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

Stoning is capital punishment in Roman times, also in Jewish law. A man who is stoned is as good as a dead man. His body would have been so broken even he survived the stoning. What enabled the Apostle Paul to suffer it?

He wants us not to look at his sufferings or to look at himself but he wants us to look at the One for whom he is suffering. Why is it in Jesus that is so precious that he would willingly suffer all things to win Christ?

Remember when Jesus fed the five thousand and after He stopped feeding them and the disciples started to leave one by one, the Bible says in John 6:66 “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.” And Jesus said to the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” The disciples weighed their options and realize that there is no where else to go but remaining with Jesus and walking with Him is the only safe option! Jesus is the only light of the world. Jesus said to his disciples, “ye are the light of the world”.

For the Apostle Paul, Jesus could have consumed him on that road to Damascus. He was blinded. He could have remained blind. Unbearable we may say but Paul was not serving any ordinary master. Paul was serving the King of kings and the Lord of lords, His Creator, Sustainer and Saviour. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus by a bright light that blinded him for 3 days. He must have thought that was the end for him. Without sight, the whole world is just darkness. He could not do even the ordinary things of life. He was confronted with his Maker, one who made him and had also the power to unmake him. So when Jesus sent Ananias to help Paul receive his sight again, imagine that gratitude in his heart. Remember Ananias was hesitant to help restore Paul’s sight because Paul or Saul (before his conversion) had done much evil to the saints in Jerusalem for he had authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on the name of Jesus!

He served as it were as a dead man, now true living. God enabled him to endure such physical affliction. The mission was supernatural for an eternal impact. The grace given to His servant was also supernatural. Let the Lord’s Name be praised. Amen.