Could God ever show weakness?

I suppose if He is truly master of all things, then He is capable of being both great and small. The climax of C. S. Lewis’s allegorical book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” is a beautiful show of strength and wisdom under the mask of weakness and foolishness.

Selfish Edmund has sold his soul to the evil Snow Queen. Aslan, the beloved lion, offers Himself in Edmund’s place. The great lion’s decision seems foolish, for not only he, but the whole country, will fall into the hands of evil.

Still, he allows his majestic mane to be cut and his body bound. There he lies, looking weak and foolish while the evil ones mock him. But he knows that any act done in love is never foolish and weak. Though he dies, love resurrects him, allowing him to save the land.

The allegorical parallels are clear.

Jesus came in weakness. Then He let nails, thorns, and wood overcome His body. He allowed it because He had a plan. By being weak, He was able to show how strong He really was: stronger than death, forgiving of hate, unrelenting in love. And because He died, His Holy Spirit could come and empower us.

His weakness, His “foolishness,” ultimately gives us strength and wisdom.