Power

Luke 4:28–30 KJV 1900

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Luke 4:287

Imagine a family of mice who lived all their lives in a large piano. To them in their piano-world came the music of the instrument, filling all the dark spaces with sound and harmony. At first the mice were impressed by it. They drew comfort and wonder from the thought that there was Someone who made the mice&md;though invisible to them&md;above, yet close to them. They loved to think of the Great Player whom they could not see.

Then one day a daring mouse climbed up part of the piano and returned very thoughtful. He had found out how the music was made. Wires were the secret; tightly stretched wires of graduated lengths which trembled and vibrated. They must revise all their old beliefs: none but the most conservative could any longer believe in the Unseen Player.

Later, another explorer carried the explanation further. Hammers were now the secret, numbers of hammers dancing and leaping on the wires. This was a more complicated theory, but it all went to show that they lived in a purely mechanical and mathematical world. The Unseen Player came to be thought of as a myth.

But the pianist continued to play.

https://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/2750/the-mice-family/

We see Jesus as a suffering Messiah throughout scripture. I was so excited to delve into this portion of scripture. We need to be reminded that Jesus is all powerful but demonstrated an unbelievable amount of self-control here on earth. We live in a time where super hero dominate the movies and science reigns supreme. This time in history, just as all the time periods preceding us, we need to remember how powerful Jesus was here on earth.

Jesus was being dragged to the precipice or the edge of the mountain and they were going to throw Him off the mountain, but Jesus walked right through them.

John 8:56–59 ESV

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

john 8:56-59

Jesus is telling them that He is the great I Am. The beginning and the ending. This outraged the people. Jesus did not fit their image what the Messiah would be. Times have not changed. People still try to put God in a box instead of seeking God out. God can not be put in a box. God did not create the box. A box has solid walls and reinforces limitations. When we live in a box, we are living in the limitations set upon us. But there is comfort in the those limitations. We find security in the limit of those four walls. Jesus came to pull us out of this box. He calls us to live a life of faith. We live in what we can not see but what we know is possible in Christ. It can be scary to walk out of the box and everything we think we know to live a life of faith founded on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. But that is where the blessings are. That is where the miracles are. Jesus is Lord of the Impossible. He makes a way where there seems to be no way.

John 6:19–21 ESV

19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

john 6:19-21

Jesus had sent the disciples ahead from Bethsaida to Capernaum. They were supposed to row along the shore line but instead they were pushed out to the midst of the sea. How many times do we feel like we are tossed about by life and get off track? Jesus showed up walking on the waters and then calmed the sea. Then He did something amazing to me. He instantly transported the boat and everyone in it to the other side. There was no, “Beam Me Up Scottie.” The power our God posses defines anything we can imagine.

John 18:3–7 ESV

3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Judas had a band of men. The original word for band was cohort or a tenth part of a legion which was 600 men of legionaries plus officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. The Roman army was the most vicious and brutal army the world had seen up to this point. Just the sound of the their hobnailed sandals was enough to put so much fear into anyone. Jesus answered their question with “I Am he”. The original word used was also used with force and emphasis. And when he said this, 600 men fell backward to the ground. Peter then took up his sword. I have it said that Peter took up his sword to defend Jesus, but I think he thought Jesus was going to set up His kingdom now and it was time to get rid of the Romans. But Jesus had a bigger picture in mind that Peter could not see. What about your life? Is there an overwhelming army that seems to be surrounding you? Does it seem it must be now that the Lord will destroy your enemies? But just like then, the Lord has a bigger picture in mind. He wants to bring you this storm with flying colors but He also wants this to be a witness to those around you.

John 20:19–22 ESV

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

John

Jesus walked through the door. Even though Mary Magdalene had told the disciples that she had seen the Resurrected Lord and He had talked with her. The disciples were afraid and thought He was a ghost. They would not relax until they saw the wounded hands and side. They rejoiced. Jesus instructed them they He would be sending them out as His heavenly father had sent Him. He then breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit. The same breath that had knocked down 600 soldiers was now being breathed on them.

Jesus is true power. He needs to have power over our mind, desires, and our tongue.

John 14:12 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Conclusion:

We need to believe in Him. We need to sit at His feet and just rest and learn from Him. We may be spending all our time doing the right things, but let’s not forget to spend time doing the best thing. He calls each and everyone of us out of the box. He calls us to live a life of faith directed by the One who has all the power. Not our employer and not the government. The One with all the true power. He calls us to:

Breathe, just breathe Come and rest at my feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need

Breathe, just breathe Come and rest at my feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to take it in, fill your lungs The peace of God that overcomes Just breathe (just breathe) let your weary spirit rest Lay down what's good and find what's best Just breathe (just breathe)

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