True Power

Chairman Mao Zedong famously declared: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” This accurately describes the modus operandi of the State and its raison d'etat since the dawn of civilization. Men and women can be led and motivated in one of two ways – Persuasion or Force. Invariably, the State chooses the latter.

History attests to the failure of the State to rid the world of war, hunger, poverty, and suffering in general. This is true whether the government is a monarchy, republic, dictatorship, or democracy. Utopian dreams remain just that – unfulfilled fantasies.

The abuse of State power stands in sharp contrast to the “Power and Wisdom” of God as demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus. God set out to defeat evil and redeem humanity in unexpected and shocking ways.

[Photo by Soul devOcean on Unsplash]

Jesus performed miracles, exorcised demons, and taught with great authority, often attracting large crowds. Yet, his contemporaries failed to recognize his messianic identity despite his deeds. None of the Jewish religious authorities, high priests, or Roman political authorities acknowledged him as Lord and Messiah.

Only the Roman centurion at Golgotha identified him as the “Son of God” as Jesus breathed his last. This man was likely the officer in charge of his execution - (Mark 15:39).

The Apostle Paul wrote, “We preach Christ Crucified, to Jews, scandal, and to Gentiles, foolishness. But to those that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God” - (1 Corinthians 1:21-24).

Contrary to political activists, ultimate power does not come “through the barrel of a gun,” but through the preaching of the Crucified Messiah. Not because that makes any sense to men, but because it is the way chosen by the God who created all things to display His “Power and Wisdom.”

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus healed the sick and exorcised demons, impressing many of his contemporaries. Yet they failed to comprehend who he was, and ironically, only the demons exorcised by him recognized his Messianic status. On the verge of understanding his identity, Peter declared Jesus was the Messiah. However, his momentary insight vanished when Christ explained what this meant – betrayal, suffering, and death.

Only in his self-sacrificial death is the Messiah of Israel revealed and understood. He was the ‘Suffering Servant of the LORD’ sent to sacrifice his life for the sake of others. Yet the religious leaders of Israel mocked him and conspired in his judicial murder, even using political intrigue to manipulate the Roman governor into becoming their accomplice. Jesus of Nazareth was not the kind of messianic figure they could stomach.

TRUE GREATNESS

Jesus declared that when he was “lifted up, then you will know I am the one.” Not his supernatural powers or political prowess, but his death by crucifixion was the foundation of his sovereignty. “If I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all men to me.” In the end, he died alone, rejected by the Jewish nation, abandoned by his closest disciples, and crushed by the might of Rome.

Contrary to the ways of this world, he instructed his disciples to do likewise – To take up his Cross and follow in his footsteps. “Greatness” in his Kingdom was measured by self-sacrificial service, not grandeur or power over others. His disciples must become like him, the one who “gave his life as a ransom for many” - (Matthew 20:25-28).

After his resurrection, he was exalted and began his reign, but his exaltation came at great personal cost. As Paul explained to the Philippians:

• (Philippians 2:5-9) – “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, counted not the being like God a thing to be grasped, but poured himself out, taking the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore, also, God highly exalted him and gave unto him the name above every name.”

We want power, wealth, and popularity, but only by finding a way to circumvent the Cross. Paul encouraged believers to “let this same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” He received the “name that is above every name” because he “poured out his life unto death” for others, including his “enemies.”

The proclamation of “Christ crucified” is scandalous to Jews and foolishness to Greeks. The idea that God achieved victory over Sin, Death, and Satan through the unjust death of a politically powerless man contradicts human “wisdom” and experience. Nevertheless, Paul called this message the “Power and Wisdom of God,” and the “Word of the Cross.”

We cannot comprehend Jesus apart from his self-sacrificial death. No man or woman can be his disciple without emulating his example by living cruciform lives. Spiritual power is obtained only through the Cross of Christ. However, this type of power is incompatible with how State power is wielded in this dark and fallen world.

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SEE ALSO:

• His Path - (Jesus proclaimed a new political reality, the Kingdom of God, one that bears little resemblance to the political systems of this age)

• Embracing the Cross - (To be the Messiah of Israel meant suffering and death for others, and Jesus summoned his disciples to follow that same path – Mark 8:31)

• Mind of Christ - (The submission of Jesus to an unjust death becomes the paradigm for the love and service to others that disciples are summoned to manifest)