Flesh into Spirit
The Word became flesh. He assumed everything that flesh is heir to - all our weakness, all our sorrow, all our sickness and shatteredness, all our godforsakenness, He took to Himself.
But not merely to identify or sympathize. He took it to Himself to overcome it. He goes to the cross as flesh, and rises Spirit. He assumed flesh in order to fill it with the power of the Spirit.
But - what is absolutely crucial - we still live life in flesh - still broken, sorrowful, weak, shattered. Jesus died and rose not so we can instantly slough off fleshliness, but so that our fleshliness can be transformed from within by the Spirit. So that weakness can be the form of power, brokenness the form of wholiness, forsakenness the form of intimacy.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.