The Coexistence of Paradoxical Qualities Simultaneously Exhibited

If we study the life of Jesus in the Gospels we see the seemingly opposite characteristics of immensely powerful authority and extremely meek humility simultaneously radiating from the aura of his presence in a curiously attractive way. If one carefully observes and meditates on the collective reactions of the people who had live interactions with Jesus in the New Testament, one can begin to taste this mysterious coherence of paradoxical qualities in cool Jesus. One time, without threats or weapons, he told the law enforcement officials of his day, who were sent by their superiors to cuff him in, not to arrest him because it wasn't the right time to do so. They ACTUALLY went away and didn't arrest him because they felt that "no one ever spoke the way he did" (John 7:32, 45, 46) when they heard and felt the immense weight in the spiritual authority of his words humbly and gently spoken to them. When he was falsely accused or unjustly mocked, he lovingly turned the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), stayed silent, and immediately love and forgave his enemies in extremely meek humility (Mark 14:60-61, 15:16-20, Luke 23:33-34).

It is impossible to simultaneously embody these paradoxical qualities if one simply "finds a balance" between 2 extremes of contrasting traits on the continuum of personality traits that are merely human. You have to stand and operate from another supernatural continuum that has extraordinary effects on the "normal human" one in order to do so. You have to have divine empowerment. It is simply unattainable and hopelessly futile to attempt to incarnate this mysterious coherence of these paradoxical qualities with mere human effort or capacity. You can only do this if you are God.

Now, here's the daring conclusion that ought to rock one's socks. If Jesus' life incarnated the coexistence of paradoxical qualities simultaneously exhibited, and if his followers are expected to be like him (1 John 2:6) through the enablement of the Holy Spirit, then his followers should also be able to grow increasingly in the coexistence of paradoxical qualities simultaneously exhibited as well. Not because they're special. But because Jesus gives his eager followers a promise that they can actually, in this lifetime, begin to "participate in the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4) and, through supernatural assistance, incarnate this mysterious coherence of immensely powerful authority and extremely meek humility just like Jesus.