Powerful like Jesus

Bible passage: 1 Cor 1:18-25

Lots of plays and shows and films on the life of Jesus. Some are excellent – show Jesus as a real human being with the authority and presence of God.

Many of them say more about the people who wrote or directed the show than they do about Jesus.

Godspel – Jesus the 1960's hippy – very camp, clever and charismatic but a bit of a wimp.
Jesus Christ Superstar – Jesus the pin-up, the heartthrob, the 1980's pop star.
Jesus of Nazareth – Jesus in need of counselling – dark good looks, attractive personality but the eyes showed that he had deep psychological turmoil and problems

Show you won't have heard of – the Lifegiver – American production toured Britain in about 1981 – what I remember about that was that it portrayed Jesus your favourite uncle - lots of fun, nice and jolly, get involved with people – but too nice for words.

One scene little girl came to Jesus on crutches. Jesus looked at her and smiled and picked her up in his arms, cradling her like a baby. He whispered something into her ears and let her to the ground – and she jumped and skipped away, while all the crowd beamed and cheered.

Thought then and I think now that's not my Jesus. That's not the Jesus I read about in the Gospels.

My Jesus – the Jesus of the Gospels - was powerful, so powerful it was scary.

Narnia books:  One of the children hears about the lion – Aslan – represents Jesus in the books. Aslan – Lucy says to Mrs Beaver? is he a tame lion? No he's not tame but he's good.
That says to me so much about my Jesus – not a pussycat he's a lion. Not tame, no-one's domestic pet – but he's good and trustworthy.

In another book when Jill asks Aslan if he eats little girls he says that he eats much more than just little girls.

Jesus came to demonstrate the power of the Kingdom.

Thought a lot about the right world to use today. I started with authority. When Jesus calmed the waves the disciples said "he has such authority" and when he taught them they said he taught with authority, not like their teachers. Jesus certainly had authority and spoke with authority.

But it wasn't really authority I wanted to get at today. Authority is about being in a superior relationship with someone or something. He held a position of spiritual authority and was authoritative – bit I want to go further than that – he had the power of God strongly in him and showed that power in how he lived and spoke.

Power today has negative associations: they say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power is seen as a dangerous and wrong thing. But power can be used for good or bad, and with Jesus it was the power of God, and of goodness which filled him.

Not just me saying that - that was the conclusion of those that met Jesus.

Peter in Acts 10: 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Power over evil

Two kingdoms – two power bases in the world – the power base of evil led by the devil Satan and al his forces. Some of those forces are personal – influence people. Some are structural – they're in oppressive systems and political movements and false religions.

And then there's the power of God which brings with it love and life and salvation and healing and liberty.

What we see in Jesus is the power of God focused in one human life, the life of Jesus. We know through reflection and the revelation of God that Jesus is not just human, he is God himself in human wrappings. But when those who followed him saw him they didn't know that – but what was evident to them was that this man has the power of God – the power to drive out demons and free people from spirits.

One man he met was under the control of not one evil spirit but many – we are legion they said – we are many. But Jesus sent them packing.

Time and time again the devil did his worst against Jesus, and Jesus showed his power.
Then at last the devil thought he'd got Jesus cornered – he saw Jesus hanging on a cross, he saw Jesus killed. But even then the Power of Jesus had the last word.

Power over death

the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God

The message of the cross, Paul says is the power of God – power for salvation. In embracing death Jesus brought the power of God down on all the evil forces and made them powerless – he disarmed them the Bible says.

Power didn't end at the cross – seen in the resurrection.

Power of life, not defeated by death, but victorious over death. By his power and the power of God in him Jesus defeated the final enemy – death itself.

Jesus lived in the power of God.

This series is about how we can be like Jesus – like him in prayer and love. Can we be like him in power?

In some ways no – we don't in ourselves have power over death. But as followers of Jesus, yes, we can know his power in us.

Paul says in Phil 3: Phil310I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul sees the power of God in Jesus and says – I want that – I want to know Christ and in knowing him to know the power of his resurrection. And in the power of his resurrection we can also be made alive in him.

In ourselves we are weak and empty, but in Jesus we can have the power of God.

There's something more amazing than Jesus healing people – it was Jesus telling his followers to do the same in his name. Telling those who followed after him that in his name they would do the same and greater things.

Jesus says In His Name we can have his power.

Doesn't mean we turn into Superman or Wonder Woman – means we can do with him what we couldn't do without him.

Power over evil – we should be asking God to protect us every day to keep us being attacked by the devil who in on the prowl in the world – more now than ever.

Power over sin – in Jesus name we can avoid the sins that ensnare us, we can stay on the narrow path, but not in our own power, only through Jesus.

Power over illness – Jesus can heal today – doesn't always heal, but his healing power is still with us.

Power over daily grind of life. It's no good saying you're okay under the circumstances, knowing Jesus can life us above the circumstances.

Not going to stand here and say it's easy or it's automatic – but with Jesus we are on the winning side and we can do what Liverpool are going to do today and see the victory of God.