Paul interprets the message of this upside down messiah in his last letter, addressed to the Philippians, on his way to martyrdom. He could easily have given us a message of fear — the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and my sentence is proof — but instead, he says, “let your gentleness be known by all.” He assures the Philippians that the know everything they need to know, and they are going to be just fine in the world as he leaves it. We need to hear that assurance now, and live in the simple ways John preaches.