Here is one of those scripture verses that seem to hide from lots of people. When I read it today I stopped and re-read and re-read and re-read. Power over Jesus. In fact, looking at the second sentence is even more difficult to understand. "The one who handed me over" is talking about Caiaphas, who maliciously tried and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Both of these men had power over Jesus. Think about that one for a moment. Jesus chose to come into this world powerless in the form of a baby. He chose to walk among those who hated Him with only love and truth to offer. And at some point chose to give Himself over to those who would have power over Him.
This is one of the most difficult things that we are all invited to live out. Powerlessness in the face of those who would harm us. As we become more like Christ we are invited to experience things in our lives that would allow us to understand Him more. The loneliness of the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, the angst of His impending crucifixion, the rejection when the crowd chose a murderer, all invitations for us to understand Him more. But powerlessness is something that most of us fight rabidly against, this like almost nothing else, feels like Death when we experience it. But Jesus walked towards this part of His story knowing that these two men (and crowds of others) would call for His blood and did so to bring life to others.
We are so "rights" oriented, so entitled to what we have, who we are and what we think that we recoil at the thought of allowing others to have a say in our lives, especially when it comes from a place of harm. It happens at work, in our homes, at our churches, people who would take from you without regard to how it affects your life. Most of us feel this internal desire to do one of two things. One direction is to get bigger than the other person, yell louder, be more angry, FIGHT! The other direction is to shrink away with no voice with our head in the sand. Jesus chose something altogether different. He spoke what was true and allowed the actions of others to affect Him deeply. It was a precursor to His cross experience. As He walked those last days Jesus must have felt profoundly alone, felt great amounts of loss and pain, and did it all to bring life to the very people who murdered Him.
The very thing that we think makes us look weak or gets us taken advantage of, is the very thing that none of us can do on our own. It is far too difficult. Remember this the next time you feel powerless and feel the urge to cling onto what is "your right" or "your voice". Allowing what others do to you to affect your heart as you speak truth to them won't make you feel vindicated or powerful. It might feel like death. It may look useless. It might also invite others to what is Life, a powerless life through Jesus.
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