God's Kind Of Power
Sermon
What an interesting situation we've had in this country recently with
the blockade of fuel depots by tractors and trucks, leading to a serious fuel
crisis with its knock-on effect for all aspects of industry and for our private
lives.
It's a very good example of the public joining together to pit their power against the power of the elected government. For if enough of those who are weak join together and act as one, they become strong. Even so, the government at first refused to budge, despite the fact that many ordinary people supported the blockades even in the face of their own inconvenience.
Contingency plans were drawn up as the government exerted more power to control the situation and the people. And the full might of authority soon appeared with the police delegated to keep fuel depots free of blockades.
It was clear that the winners would be those who had the greatest power, but with a General Election within the foreseeable future, the public perhaps had more power than the government initially realised.
Human power is very recognisable. It may be related to muscle in which the physically strong defeat the weak. Or it may be related to designated authority like that of the government, elected or otherwise. Or it may be related to wealth, in which the rich have considerably more power than the poor.
But God's power isn't like any of that. God's power is quite different and totally unlike human power. And because of that, it is frequently mistaken for weakness rather than being seen as strength.
The disciples only understood power in human terms. They were arguing about who should have the best seats when they all reached heaven. There seemed to be no question as to whether they would all reach heaven, but they wanted to be sure they knew who would be on the top table in the places of honour at the great feast.
Jesus tried to tell them they'd got it all wrong. "If you want to be the greatest of all," he said, "then you need to be a servant. If you want to be first, you must put yourself in the last position."
Then he picked up a small child and cuddled the child and said, "Actually, you have to become like this little one here, weak, powerless, incapable of intrigue, trusting, innocent and loving if you want to enter my kingdom. You should welcome all little children in my name because unknowingly, they can teach you so much about God. And all those who welcome little children in my name are actually welcoming God himself."
It was a totally new concept to consider that God, the all-powerful, might willingly give up his power and make himself as vulnerable as a tiny child.
God's power is not in wealth or human authority or muscle. But the paradox is, that although to human eyes it may appear that all power is gone and those who become like little children are utterly weak and helpless, they actually discover a new kind of power, God's power.
Jesus himself demonstrated the kind of life which was without power but which knew an immense power of a different sort.
Jesus turned his back on wealth and lived a frugal life. He made himself utterly vulnerable by relying on other people's kindness and generosity, for he earned no money himself. So he had no power in terms of wealth. Yet he attracted huge crowds of people wherever he went. He had so much genuine love for those people that he was able to heal every kind of disease.
He had no human authority, but he dared to take on the establishment. He turned the merchants out of the temple and called them thieves and robbers, even though part of the money they earned went towards the upkeep of the temple.
He called the Pharisees, the religious elite of their day, "white washed tombs" because he saw them as whiter than white on the outside but corrupt within.
And when he stood on trial for his life before both Pilate and Herod, the highest powers in the land representing the might of Rome and the might of the Jewish Royal Family, he refused to speak to them. He had no recognisable human power, but the power he had from God was immense.
When human beings cease to be slaves to their own fears and anxieties, God's power grows within them. When fear of the loss of social status, for instance, has gone, a human being no longer worries about what other people might think. There's no longer any need to put the right "face" on things.
Of course, this doesn't mean that everything will be wonderful and painless. Jesus' actions ended in his execution in the most horrific way. But the power he had from God enabled him to get through that hideous time of darkness and despair with his integrity intact, and still loving those who had put him through it.
That's power indeed, a power which no wealth or position in the world could provide. It's a power which gives courage and strength and hope, and which sometimes causes amazing things to happen.
And it's a power which is available to everyone, free. All that's needed is to believe in Jesus and step out in faith to follow him. And that's so simple even a little child can do it.
It's a very good example of the public joining together to pit their power against the power of the elected government. For if enough of those who are weak join together and act as one, they become strong. Even so, the government at first refused to budge, despite the fact that many ordinary people supported the blockades even in the face of their own inconvenience.
Contingency plans were drawn up as the government exerted more power to control the situation and the people. And the full might of authority soon appeared with the police delegated to keep fuel depots free of blockades.
It was clear that the winners would be those who had the greatest power, but with a General Election within the foreseeable future, the public perhaps had more power than the government initially realised.
Human power is very recognisable. It may be related to muscle in which the physically strong defeat the weak. Or it may be related to designated authority like that of the government, elected or otherwise. Or it may be related to wealth, in which the rich have considerably more power than the poor.
But God's power isn't like any of that. God's power is quite different and totally unlike human power. And because of that, it is frequently mistaken for weakness rather than being seen as strength.
The disciples only understood power in human terms. They were arguing about who should have the best seats when they all reached heaven. There seemed to be no question as to whether they would all reach heaven, but they wanted to be sure they knew who would be on the top table in the places of honour at the great feast.
Jesus tried to tell them they'd got it all wrong. "If you want to be the greatest of all," he said, "then you need to be a servant. If you want to be first, you must put yourself in the last position."
Then he picked up a small child and cuddled the child and said, "Actually, you have to become like this little one here, weak, powerless, incapable of intrigue, trusting, innocent and loving if you want to enter my kingdom. You should welcome all little children in my name because unknowingly, they can teach you so much about God. And all those who welcome little children in my name are actually welcoming God himself."
It was a totally new concept to consider that God, the all-powerful, might willingly give up his power and make himself as vulnerable as a tiny child.
God's power is not in wealth or human authority or muscle. But the paradox is, that although to human eyes it may appear that all power is gone and those who become like little children are utterly weak and helpless, they actually discover a new kind of power, God's power.
Jesus himself demonstrated the kind of life which was without power but which knew an immense power of a different sort.
Jesus turned his back on wealth and lived a frugal life. He made himself utterly vulnerable by relying on other people's kindness and generosity, for he earned no money himself. So he had no power in terms of wealth. Yet he attracted huge crowds of people wherever he went. He had so much genuine love for those people that he was able to heal every kind of disease.
He had no human authority, but he dared to take on the establishment. He turned the merchants out of the temple and called them thieves and robbers, even though part of the money they earned went towards the upkeep of the temple.
He called the Pharisees, the religious elite of their day, "white washed tombs" because he saw them as whiter than white on the outside but corrupt within.
And when he stood on trial for his life before both Pilate and Herod, the highest powers in the land representing the might of Rome and the might of the Jewish Royal Family, he refused to speak to them. He had no recognisable human power, but the power he had from God was immense.
When human beings cease to be slaves to their own fears and anxieties, God's power grows within them. When fear of the loss of social status, for instance, has gone, a human being no longer worries about what other people might think. There's no longer any need to put the right "face" on things.
Of course, this doesn't mean that everything will be wonderful and painless. Jesus' actions ended in his execution in the most horrific way. But the power he had from God enabled him to get through that hideous time of darkness and despair with his integrity intact, and still loving those who had put him through it.
That's power indeed, a power which no wealth or position in the world could provide. It's a power which gives courage and strength and hope, and which sometimes causes amazing things to happen.
And it's a power which is available to everyone, free. All that's needed is to believe in Jesus and step out in faith to follow him. And that's so simple even a little child can do it.
