POWER MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS

October 10, 2016

POWER MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS

Luke 22:63–71

Victoria King

Central Truth

Jesus had the power to stop the blasphemy, abuse, and torture at any time with just a word. Yet, He chose to glorify the Father instead of Himself and fulfill the Father’s incredible plan to save mankind.

They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” (Luke 22:64)

Jesus Is Mocked

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Jesus Before the Council

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

I’ve heard 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Hebrews 4:15 paraphrased throughout my life—Jesus endured every temptation we have and, therefore, is empathetic with our weaknesses. I often wondered, though—every temptation? Does He really understand all that we have been through or how frustrating it is to be in traffic?

Luke 22:63-65 sheds a new light on this for me. Jesus had such incredible self-control! Just picture how it must have felt to be Him! He is the perfect, righteous, Son of God who performed numerous miracles and is about to die for everyone’s sins. One by one, His guards slap him (in Jewish culture a backhanded slap was especially degrading) and mocked Him saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” (verse 64). If I were Jesus, I would have wanted to pull a superhero moment, throwing all of them off and knocking them out instantly; or maybe blinding the one who asked; or better yet, siccing legions of angels on them!

This seems crazy, but Jesus literally could have done any of those things. Just imagine that power! I think it would have made it even harder to maintain self-control, knowing you did have the power. Jesus could have justified any of these actions because it would have glorified Him as the Son of God, but it wasn’t part of the plan and wouldn’t have glorified the Father as much as the cross did. Instead, Jesus kept His head down and allowed Himself to be humiliated and those guards to feel superior.

We all have a 2 year old inside of us waiting to throw a temper tantrum. Being a parent has made me realize just that. What is the reaction you have when you are hungry, or tired, or when someone skips in front of you in line, or cuts you off in traffic?

When you react, are you trying to “win”? Will that glorify yourself or the Lord? Even if you feel justified in responding, remember Jesus—blindfolded, mocked, and beaten, with the power to respond. Then, ask yourself, “Whom am I trying to glorify?”

1. Has there been a time when you had the power to react to something and "win," but chose not to? Did you see the Lord bless that choice?

2. When is a time that you lost self-control? What was the root cause?

3. In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to maintain self-control?

4. When you want to react to a situation today, stop and consciously ask yourself if you are trying to glorify yourself or God.