I read a scripture the other day that made me stop and think about the awesome power of Jesus. For some reason when I read it this time (and it’s a scripture we all know well) it hit me as never before. Here is the scripture:
Mat 26:53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
I won’t get into the story of Jesus’ capture, persecution, and eventual crucifixion here, but let’s just say that Jesus gave us a great gift when He allowed these men to take Him into captivity. He most certainly didn’t have to – as He says here, He could have called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him.
The power of Jesus is beyond anything we can imagine, after all He is the creator of the universe (John 1:1-3)! Jesus could have destroyed every man that was afflicting Him on that fateful evening. He could have set them on fire, killed them with worms (as Herod met his fate), or (if you want a more modern take), He could have beaten them down more throughly than any Marvel Superhero.
To touch on this point in a bit more depth – I hope, I truly hope, that we don’t see Jesus as less powerful than Captain America or Superman. Our children should be taught that the “fake” power of the superheroes they see in the media are weak and feeble compared to Jesus. The power that these man-made “heroes” have in their fantasy worlds is nothing compared to the awesome power of Jesus (and He has that power in reality, right here in this world).
We should also understand that true power is being meek and lowly, true power is loving one another, and true power is being willing to sacrifice everything for one’s friends:
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Yes, we should remember these Christlike definitions of power, but we should also remember that when Christ comes again it will not be the time for such self-sacrifice. When Christ comes again He will come to bring justice. If we are in an obedient relationship with Christ then His coming will be a wonderful day indeed. As the Bible says:
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
However, if we are not in an obedient and acceptable relationship with Christ…woe to us.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
If we are on the right side of the awesome power of Jesus then there is nothing that can harm us. Let us all acknowledge the glorious power of Jesus and follow the inspired and perfect doctrine of the Bible – then, and only then, will we be assured of eternal life with Christ our King.