Monday 12th June
Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-2
“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows.” (NIVUK)
Paul remains reluctant to go on boasting. There is no personal gain for Paul. The only thing to be gained is the repentance of the Corinthians and that remains the only reason we even hear of this vision and revelation. That is actually the key point. The only reason we hear about this vision is because these ‘super apostles’ likely claimed superiority and allegiance based on visions and revelations from God. In contrast to Paul’s reluctance to speak about it at all.
Paul is so reluctant that he has to revert to the third person (v2)! Even then, rather than claim that such visions and revelations are the prerogative of spiritual leaders and a mark of authority to be respected, Paul undermines the premise entirely by describing himself as simply a ‘man in Christ’. Paul experienced this vision/revelation because he knows Jesus, just like all of those in Corinth reading the letter. The mark of those who have truly received such visions is their reticence to speak of them.
In a fascinating book by James Connor about the Christian polymath Blaise Pascal he describes just such a mystical vision, similar to the one described by Paul. Pascal was enduring a dark night of the soul, questioning his faith and his direction in life, unsettled and unhappy. But late on the evening of the 23rd of November, 1654 all of that changed. The change was so abrupt that those who knew him best marvelled. They marvelled because they could not account for his change in manner, a calmness and serenity possessed him that he had never previously shown. The mystery of that change remained until his death. As his nephew was going through his uncle’s clothes in preparation for burial he came upon a note sewn inside the breast pocket of his blazer. Close to his heart. It read (in part):
“The year of grace 1654,
Monday, 23 November, the feast of St Clement, pope and martyr, and of others in the martyrology.
The Vigil of St Chyrsogonus, martyr, and others.
From about half past ten at night until half past midnight,
FIRE.
GOD of Abraham, GOD of Isaac, GOD of Jacob
Not the God of the philosophers and of the learned.
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.
GOD of Jesus Christ….”
The change everyone marvelled at occurred due to a divine vision of such intensity that all Pascal could utter was ‘FIRE’ – the God who revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush had revealed Himself to Pascal in such an amazing way as to transform him for two hours. His doubts fled and all that remained was joy and peace. Yet, like Paul wished he could do, he told not a soul.
So, be wary of those who proclaim themselves the recipients of marvellous visions. It is not that we should doubt that people are so blessed, but that the truly humble, ordinary, Christian blessed to receive them, is reticent to talk at all.
