This morning we are reading one of the most profound passages on the power of paraklesis. It means to call near. It can be used to comfort someone who is hurting but it can be directed to God when I am hurting and I need Him. Incredibly it can be directed to us from God also.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1 v 3-7)
I highlight the word because you are never going to read a few verses in the New Testament with such repetitiveness. Why does Paul repeat it so much? He does it because of the suffering that Christ endured on the cross. As we approach this Easter season let us again be reminded of the power of Christ’s sufferings for us. In whatever way you might be suffering it doesn’t need to be senseless, empty and the total focus of your life. Through Christ your suffering can become paraklesis, you can ‘call near’ and He will come. The suffering can be abundant but also the comfort can abound.
These verses are written from someone who knows. He isn’t specific yet but we read between the lines and we know that this is a person who has suffered. He knows what he is talking about. Now if all he and us have known is suffering then our talk is negative, complaining and depressing. But it isn’t. For we have been to the cross of Christ. More than that we have prayed the paraklesis prayer and we have known this comfort. We have something positive to declare other than, “Me too!” Don’t you find it annoying that when you share your story of suffering that someone in reply says ‘oh I know you should hear what happened to me!” This isn’t that.
In fact for Paul he sees that his paraklesis life is not only testifying but it is leading others to have the same life. He is teaching others to carry the cross as he does for as we do we hear the paraklesis call to come near to Christ.
In whatever way you are weak and suffering today make sure you enter into paraklesis for He is near. Where He is, there will be all the encouragement and comfort you need as He comes alongside you.
The Paraklesis prayer is simply this: Come near!
He is here. With you. In your suffering. Holding you. Understanding you.
And that is comfort.
Missions Paul 