Today’s stories are images of the cross and resurrection of Jesus: hidden in the weakness of Jesus, known and rejected in his death, is the very power of Christ, dwelling now among us in word and sacrament. Following Christ, Paul says that whenever he was weak then he was strong. Listening to this word of God, the Spirit also enters into us and we stand up. Out of our own weakness, having nothing except the gospel, we may turn to our neighbors in witness and in service.