eMeditation on the Bible
 
Question: How is God’s power different from power in the human family?
 
Story (Luke 9:18-22)
One day Jesus was praying alone. Only his disciples (inner circle of followers) were with him. He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist [a recent messenger of God]. Others say Elijah [the greatest of the ancient messengers of God]. Still others say that you are one of God’s messengers from long ago that has come back to life.”
      
“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say that I am?”
      
Peter answered, “The Christ [the Special Person God promised to send to the human family].”
      
Jesus said, “The Christ must suffer many things. Community leaders will reject him. Religious leaders will also reject him. He will be executed. But he will rise from death after 3 days.”  
 
Background
For centuries, people had been waiting for the Christ: the special person God promised to send to end our separation from God and make things right on earth. People interpreted this promise of God as a person who would gain political, military and economic power to overthrow corrupt and oppressive empires and establish justice by force. The idea that the Christ would be rejected by the community and religious leaders and be executed by the Romans was unbelievable. Thus, the disciples were very shocked when Jesus responded to Peter’s recognition that Jesus is the Christ by announcing that he was destined for rejection, suffering and execution.
 
General Principle
The destiny of Jesus as the Christ (God’s Promised One) teaches us that the power of God is radically different from the power practiced within the human family. Because the basic nature of God is love, God’s power is not the power of manipulation, intimidation, control, force or violence. Instead, God’s power is the power of loving persuasion that transforms relationships and communities without coercion. The suffering and execution of Jesus show that the power of God’s love is expressed by a self-giving and self-sacrificing commitment to the highest good and flourishing well-being of the human family. When Jesus was executed, God transformed the evil power of force and violence into the final and perfect sacrifice for sin that provides forgiveness for us and enables us to be right with God.
 
Personal Application
God sent Jesus to earth as the Christ to suffer and die for us. Jesus’ death became the final sacrifice for sin that transforms our relationship with God from separation to entering God's family. Jesus revealed the power of God’s love for us through his rejection, suffering and death. Jesus was the visible form of God’s transforming power of self-giving and self-sacrificing love.  
 
Respond by Growing
Receive God’s invitation to begin a relationship with God and enter God’s family. End your separation from God by following Jesus as God’s authority over your life. Allow God to transform your heart and life by following Jesus’ example of self-giving, self-sacrificing love as you serve those who are vulnerable, needy and mistreated. Imagine what a wonderful community the human family will become when the power of force and control is replaced by God’s love.