April 5th, 2009
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BE POWERLESS
I read an article this past week in Christianity Today in which the author explored God’s power in light of Good Friday, and Easter. He began by looking at Jesus as the “’impotent’ God of Good Friday… the One who dies on a cross.” It was a timely article as I read through the Palm Sunday Scripture readings. In them, we see Jesus seemingly “impotent” and powerless to save Himself, much less the world. Observe our “impotent” King.
He begins the week in glory with all around rejoicing that finally this Jesus was acting like a King…“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey; on a colt, the foal of a donkey” Zechariah 9:9
Except, He was riding a donkey - kings and heroes ride in on majestic white horses, not donkeys. Well, we could justify that - the donkey after all was a symbol for peace; so He could still be a king – just a peaceful One. But Jesus’ power seemed to lessen as the week went on. Look at Him on Good Friday morning - falsely accused and SILENT…. “The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." But Jesus still made no reply” Mark 15:3-5
The day goes from bad to worse. Not only does Jesus refuse to defend Himself against false accusations, He allows people to mock Him, ridicule Him and lead Him to the most horrific and humiliating punishment of the times - crucifixion…”The soldiers led Jesus away… put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” Mark 15:16-20
And if that wasn’t bad enough – even His own Father turned His back on Him…”And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
To the casual observer Jesus was truly impotent – stripped of His power at the hands of ruthless killers.
But we know the truth. To be sure, Jesus was impotent and stripped of His power - but not at the hands of ruthless killers. Rather, Jesus became “impotent” by His own hand… “Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but EMPTIED HIMSELF taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5b-8
Jesus was powerful enough to let himself become powerless. Why? Because as the author of the Christianity Today article reminds us: “Holy Week culminates in Easter, when we remember the omnipotent God who conquers all, including death itself” Our “impotent,” servant King of Good Friday, became our all -powerful, conquering King of Easter.
And, because Jesus was powerful enough to be powerless we, like the Psalmist, now have the power to declare: “I trust in You, O LORD, I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me” (Psalm 31:14-15) and like Zechariah, rest assured that “because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free…This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.” Zechariah 9:11-12.
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” Rev. 11:17
Prayer: “I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:15-20
Church Season –
Palm Sunday
Week ending: April 5th, 2009
Monday – (Old Testament)
Zechariah 9:9-12
Look at the benefits of Zion’s King
Tuesday – Psalm 31:9-16
What a beautiful before and after picture
Wednesday –(Epistle)
Philippians 2:5-11
In what ways can the power of Jesus make you powerless
Thursday – (Gospel)
Mark 15:1-34
Our servant King suffers and dies – but it’s not the end!!
Friday – REFLECT
Saturday – SHARE
Sunday – WORSHIP
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