What Power Will Do To You (#981)

9 Comments

1. I had a similar insight into Jesus’ comment when his disciples woke him up during the windstorm that was swamping their boat. I saw it for the first time this week as an observation rather than a critique meant to belittle his disciples. In Matthew’s account, this event was in a very early part of the disciples journey with Jesus. Their relationship with Jesus was just beginning. Sure there are some, like the Centurion who had faith that was beyond any that Jesus had found in all of Israel, but that’s the exception. For most of us, it takes growth in our relationship with Jesus before we have faith like that Centurion had .

2. I’m struck by a dilemma. If I encourage and submit to an individual taking power over me, I am contributing to a system that pulls me and that person away from God. But if I fight against that power, I could be in danger of becoming just as powerful and hardened against the life Jesus wants for me. The world system seems to squeeze people into these roles of oppressor and oppressed, with shake ups that switch places but without real change toward spiritual
   and emotional health.

   • I hear you, Kathy. That’s how it looks on the surface. I have found there are so many other options, though, Kathy. Following him will open up other opportunities neither to capitulate to power nor use it to fight off others.

3. How does this scripture fit with Sara’s view: Jesus said, “Are you still so ignorant? (Mat 15:16 ISV) ? ;^)

   You have my sympathies about the back pains, Wayne. My wife Karen and I are within a year or 2 of being the same age as you. I just took her to the ER last month for back pain she couldn’t tolerate. She’s apologized for the way her health decline has affected our marriage and I just remind her that my joy is she’s still here with me.

   About hierarchy – consider Jesus words “not one stone shall be left atop the other” and Peter’s “come as living stones” – I can see a spiritual interpretation of Jesus words beyond the physical temple in Jerusalem – He will abolish every hierarchical system of men and put all of us on the same level.

   • Hi Jack. Thanks for your gracious blog comments. I’m sorry for what your wife is going through. Back pain can be incredibly debilitating. I’m sure she appreciates your graciousness, too, through it all. It is lovely to have someone to grow old with who is there to understand and comfort. As to your question, it depends on how that verse is translated. What he’s saying is, “You mean you don’t get it yet?” Many translations use “dull” or “ignorant,” but that isn’t really the force of it unless you see Jesus as a demeaning person. I think he was surprised at Peter’s question, so he responds to it, but he graciously goes on to explain what they had missed. So, no, I don’t think this was a put-down, but a recognition that they had so far missed what he was saying. I’ll pray for your wife…

4. Naturally I picked the most obnoxious translation to (playfully) test Sara’s insight. ;^) I shared it with Karen last evening and the conversation blessed us in that it peeled off yet another layer of condemnation and viewing the Savior as ever critical. In talking about it, we remembered the passage where Jesus noted that people are ever hearing and never understanding and perceiving – without the Spirit (1Cor2:14). So perhaps Jesus was just pulsing the disciples to see whether they had received revelation from the Father yet – like He noted of Peter when he made his good confession. Thanks for the prayers! Coming your way, too!

   • Isn’t it amazing how quickly our minds seek to find an exception to something true in Scripture? I remember doing this when I was told the word ‘righteousness’ isn’t in Scripture, only to realize the person was talking about a translation error. I know how often people push back about God being a loving Father because of all the horror stories they’ve read in the Bible. Religion cuts deep in our soul, wanting to hold us captive to our fears rather than liberate us to trust. I love what you and your wife are discovering. Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us.

5. J.B. Phillips translates Mt. 23,10-12:

   And you must not let people call you ‘leaders’—you have only one leader, Christ! The only ‘superior’ among you is the one who serves the others. For every man who promotes himself will be humbled, and every man who learns to be humble will find promotion.

   I recently had another case in which J.B. Phillips translated outstandigly, even better than the Message.

   Be blessed

   • That has got to be one of the most ignored passages in all of Scripture, by the people who teach Scripture.

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