Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power
Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power
and the Glory Forever and Ever
Easter – The Resurrection of our Lord
April 4, 1999
Matthew 6:13, 28:1-10
Happy Easter! Christians all over the world this morning are gathering around God’s Word and Holy Supper to celebrate the day the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This day has come to be commonly referred to as Easter. Yet, among those who celebrate, there are some who doubt and misunderstand what it’s all about. Others just flat out reject the notion that there could possibly be a bodily resurrection of the dead.
In a rather interesting twist of irony, the religious leaders responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion accept the report of the resurrection, while the disciples do not. Just look at what happens. The chief priests who repeatedly rejected the claims of Jesus, that he was the Son of God and would take up his life again in three days, offer a bribe to the soldiers. Scripture tells us that the chief priests concocted this lie: “They gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep’” (Mt 28:12-13).
On the other hand, the disciples “did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Lk 24:11). How ironic this turn around of attitude seems. But, Jesus would strengthen his followers faith, revealing that God’s kingdom, power, and glory are his forever.
Thine Is the Kingdom. We pray at the close of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thine [yours] is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.” These words reflect one of the majestic doxologies from the book of Revelation, (5:13): “`To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’”
In equally majestic fashion, Paul describes Christ’s kingdom and authority this way: “[God] seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph 1:20-23).
These words of God are reassuring because they point to where the real kingdom authority is. They say that the Savior is “head over everything for the church.” In other words, he governs the world and world events for the well-being of those who love and believe in him. Now, I expect everybody here might say, “Yep! I believe that!” But how deep does your faith reach? Especially when you consider what has been going on in Ireland, or Kosovo. You see, we all have our own perspective of God and what he should or shouldn’t do. But we should also know that our perspective is driven by the spirit that dwells within us. Witness the priestly leaders trying to cover up Jesus’ resurrection.
The point is this: What spirit was driving those religious people? God’s, or something else? How ironic it is to see unbelieving people carrying out the divine will of God in spite of themselves. The Savior is head over everything for the church. His is the Kingdom!
Thine Is the Power. In this kingdom there is no end, or limit to his power. But, when he says, “I lay down my life-- only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, … I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father," unbelieving hearts are outraged by the boldness of Jesus to speak so authoritatively, as though he were God. But, such unbelief misses the Spirit guided truth of God that Jesus is indeed God in human flesh. So when Jesus speaks, God’s power works the miracle of raising a dead human body.
This is a wonderful thing. That same power is now at work in everyone who believes. Listen to the apostle speak of it in his prayer for believers like us: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he [God] has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
My friends, this power means life for everyone who is touched by it. But, to simply say that we believe makes no difference to God what so ever! There has never been a person saved from God’s wrath because they said they believed. Even those who crucified Jesus said they believed in God. No, it is the Spirit that guides our heart that makes all the difference to God. Without God’s Spirit at work in us, there is no power, and no salvation.
The power of God in Christ is not always evident. It stays pretty much dormant during the capture, trial, and execution of Jesus. But, in Gethsemane we catch a glimpses of his omnipotence. When the people went to arrest Jesus, he asked his soon to be captors: “`Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said.” Listen carefully to what happens next. “When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground” (Jn 18:4-6).
Another glimpse of his power comes when Peter cuts off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Our Lord immediately healed the man (Lk 22:50-51). But, even this show of power applied in mercy goes unheeded. It seems contradictory to human rationale, that Jesus can claim to be God and that he can heal, yet, he cannot save himself from an agonizing death.
But as we heard Jesus himself say, it is not that he cannot, but that he will not be deterred from fulfilling his Father’s command. Thank God! Because of His willingness to suffer all, even death on the cross, for all people, there is now a present and eternal benefit for all. The empty tomb stands as God’s guarantee. His is the Power!
Thine Is the Glory. The importance of Christ’s death and resurrection cannot be overstated. Salvation and forgiveness rests squarely on these foundational events. Paul does not pull any punches or exaggerate when he says: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all” (1 Cor 15:17-19).
Friend and foe alike, heard Christ predict his death and resurrection. When Jesus said, “‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ [unbelieving foes of Jesus] The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’” They missed the point that, “the temple he had spoken of was his body.” They misunderstood both, the message and his glory.
The [believing] friends of Jesus also recall hearing his words. John gives us his eye-witness report: “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said” (Jn 2:19-22). “‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life’” (Mt 20:17-19). Their hearts had been turned to receive the message, and thus his glory, just as it happens to people today.
But even as we celebrate this Easter, we are reminded again of our struggle against the weakness of our humanity, our own sinful nature. Again we are reminded that faith will always need to be strengthened, even in the most devout followers of Christ. But that’s the point of the Resurrection.
It is God’s promise and guarantee that the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory do, in fact, belong to Jesus Christ, and none other. And, because it does, we are assured of the certainty of new life in Christ. A new life of our sins being forgiven and remembered no more. A new life of inherited, undeserved grace. A new life guided by the Spirit of the living God. And, because the kingdom, the Power, and the Glory of God have been revealed in us, we pray, Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever and Ever. AMEN!