Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life
1. Introduction
One of the most vivid portrayals of Christ’s humanity appears in the Gospels when Jesus, during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, is found asleep in the boat (Mark 4:38). This is the same Jesus who rebukes the wind and sea with divine authority moments later. The paradox here lies in the juxtaposition of divine omnipotence—the attribute of God being all-powerful—with the human vulnerability of exhaustion and rest.
2. God’s Omnipotence in Scripture
2.1 Biblical Affirmations
- Jeremiah 32:17 – “There is nothing too hard for thee.”
- Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
- Job 42:2 – “I know that thou canst do every thing.”
- Luke 1:37 – “With God nothing shall be impossible.”
2.2 Theological Significance
- God’s omnipotence means He possesses unlimited power, and nothing can restrain His will.
- He does not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28), and never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:4).
3. Christ Slept: The Humanity of Jesus
3.1 Gospel Narrative
- Mark 4:38 – “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.”
- Matthew 8:24 and Luke 8:23 also record this event.
- Jesus was so tired that He remained asleep during a violent storm, highlighting His true humanity and physical limitations.
3.2 Incarnational Theology
- Jesus was fully God and fully man (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9).
- His ability to sleep shows He willingly accepted the limitations of a human body (Hebrews 2:17).
- Sleep is a natural function of embodied life, not a defect or lack of divinity.
4. Theological Resolution: Power Cloaked in Flesh
| Divine Attribute | Earthly Expression in Christ |
|---|---|
| All-powerful Creator | Sleeps from physical exhaustion |
| Sustainer of the world | Depends on rest in a storm-tossed boat |
| Lord of creation | Vulnerable to nature, yet master over it |
- This paradox is reconciled through the hypostatic union: Christ’s divine omnipotence was not lost, but voluntarily veiled under the form of human limitation (Philippians 2:6–8).
- The One who never sleeps chose to experience sleep, that He might truly become like us.
5. Historical and Theological Commentary
5.1 Church Fathers
- Gregory of Nazianzus: “That which He did not assume, He did not heal.” Christ’s sleep affirms He assumed full humanity.
- Athanasius: Emphasised the Word became flesh not in appearance only, but in full participation.
5.2 Reformation Insight
- Calvin: Stressed that Christ slept not out of weakness of divinity, but as a real man subject to fatigue.
- Luther: Called this paradox “the hidden majesty of Christ,” where God is in the boat, yet asleep.
6. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
6.1 Assurance of Christ’s Full Humanity
- His real tiredness reminds us He identifies with our physical limits and exhaustion (Hebrews 4:15).
6.2 Divine Presence in Human Frailty
- Even when Christ appeared passive, divine power remained fully intact, as seen in His rebuke of the storm.
6.3 Comfort in Storms
- Christ may seem silent or asleep in our crises, but His presence in the boat guarantees sovereign care.
7. Conclusion
The paradox that God is omnipotent, yet Jesus slept in the boat points to the mystery of the Incarnation. It does not represent a contradiction, but rather a profound truth: God in Christ took on human limitations without losing divine power. In the very act of sleeping, the omnipotent God demonstrated His solidarity with us—and then, by calming the storm, revealed His identity as the sovereign Lord over creation.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Gregory of Nazianzus, Theological Orations
- Athanasius, On the Incarnation
- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Martin Luther, Sermons on the Gospels
- Grudem, W. Systematic Theology