Jesus, vulnerable? As deity, Jesus is powerful and knowing, which seems to raise an impenetrable wall against any vulnerability, yet without vulnerability as a man, Jesus never would or could have fulfilled his purpose in God’s plan for our lives. Jesus had to become vulnerable in order to be the Savior who sacrificed himself for us to open the path of a relationship that invites us into eternal life with God. To be vulnerable is to be capable of being wounded, physically or emotionally. Being vulnerable involves being open to attack or damage. Jesus was certainly vulnerable.
The men who were guarding Jesus began making fun of him and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you.” They said many cruel things to Jesus. (Luke 22:63-65)
Jesus was beaten with whips and handed over to the soldiers to be crucified. The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace, and they all gathered around him. They took off his clothes and put a red robe on him. Using thorny branches, they made a crown, put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Jesus. Then they took his stick and began to beat him on the head. (Matthew 27:26-30)
God created us to live a fulfilled, purposeful life by becoming like Jesus. Knowing the pain and humiliation Jesus endured creates a pause in us, and we’re hesitant to make ourselves as fully vulnerable as Jesus did. We know we’ll get hurt. We’ve been hurt. We’ll get hurt again. We love others, reflecting Jesus’ love, and at the same time, we hold back.
God doesn’t call each of us into a life of daring danger. Even if he did, we don’t choose Jesus knowing what it ahead. Our motivation isn’t conditional; it’s relational. Vulnerability isn’t about what others can do to us; it’s about what God can do in us. When we’re vulnerable in God’s presence, he can fully work through us. Vulnerability requires yielding, trusting God to provide whatever protection we need. It might not be what is comfortable to us, but being vulnerable to God and in his care is a less vulnerable place than standing in a place of rationalized personal strength and protection but exposed more than we care to admit.