The Jesus Conversations | Power Games

My kids wake up early between 5 and 6am ready to rock and roll. They literally run out of the room as soon as their feet hit the floor. One morning, my son even started clapping his hands together in the final seconds before he woke.

They get this from their mom (PAUSE), but I’m learning how to really enjoy it. Some of my favorite moments with them have happened during our daddy morning adventures, which always involves us cooking family breakfast together.

Since my daughter, Hannah, was little, she has wanted to help with anything and everything, and then, eventually, do those things by herself.

Cooking is one such thing. It has become a kind of canvas for her creativity. In the recent months, I’ve been helping her learn how to crack eggs, measure the milk, and stir the pancake mix. She knows where we store all of our ingredients and pans and has since taken great pride in setting the breakfast menu for the morning. Truly, she has become one fine little sous chef.

Now, my son, Levi, on the other hand, who just turned two, has been noticing all of the seemingly fun things that Hannah has learned how to do in the kitchen, and has developed crazy FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out - over it! He thinks he can do anything Hannah can do.

Recently, he asked me so politely if he could help me scramble eggs. But the kitchen rule is no touching the stove. so I said no. Then he pointed at the spatula, and said, “Daddy, touch?” I said no, Levi. Then, he asked me if he could turn the knobs on the stove, and I said no. Finally, he asked me if he could flip a pancake. I said, “Levi, you may not touch the stove.”

He looked at me, smiled, and said, “Please, daddy.” I said, “No, Buddy, you may not.” He said, “Please, daddy.” And then so sweetly, he said, “Please dada, please dada.” I said, "No, Levi, you may not flip the pancake.”

Then, all of a sudden, he turned green, grew big muscles, and tore his pajamas. He grabbed my shirt, looked at me in the eye, and yelled, “PLEASE, Daddy! PLEASE!… PLEASE!

I didn’t know whether to laugh or duck and cover. I had never before seen him speak to me like that. He wasn’t begging me. His power was confronting me. He was fiercely asserting his will over me, and he spoke to me with every bit of intention to convince me with his power to flip that pancake.

Make no mistake, in the kitchen that morning, my son engaged me in a power struggle conversation with the intention of asserting his will over me.

Our experience that morning, albeit kinda humorous for me, highlights a crucial microcosm of what you and I encounter daily within ourselves, between others, against systems, structures, and institutions, and even amongst nations against other nations:

And that is: The raw, complex struggle for POWER.

***Power is the currency of human interaction. It is the most basic property of life. Power is to human relationships what the atom is to the physical world. It is the foundation on which every human being relates, and it can be expressed in an infinite number of ways for the benefit or destruction of others.

***Power is not value neutral. It will take a side, either for good or evil. The old saying, “the sum is greater than its parts” bears out in our lives when the power of human potential is unleashed for the good of others. Abused power, however, can steal, kill, and destroy without any remorse.

***Power is shapeless. It isn’t measured by the size of a gun or the crowd at the square. It can ripple throughout the world with the simple stroke of a pen or the whisper of a song.

***Power is volatile. Like plutonium, power-charged to either lighten a region or obliterate a city. Power must be safeguarded and placed under strict boundaries in order to steward its potential.

***Power is inevitable. Everybody has some of it, and everybody wants more of it. The longing and desire for every person is to shout: [play audio clip] “I’ve got the power!”

But the deeper question of the human experience really is, “Who’s got the power?”

“Who’s got the power?”

This question couldn’t be more timely given our current political and cultural climates. Regardless of how you vote, what you believe, or how much money you make, no other time in world history have we witnessed such an upset of the established power structures. Radical globalization accompanied by the sways of postmodernism have shifted power topeople who have never had it from those who have never known their personal life or generational history without it.

Who’s got the power?

Is it you? Or Is it me?... Or could it possibly be - just maybe be - from another source entirely?

And if I don’t have it, then how do I get more of it? And will the person who does have it care for me and those whom I love? And will my needs be met? Will I be ok?

These are the real questions all of us are asking, because the dirty little secret about power is that none of us have it completely. All of us are asking: “Who’s got the power? And how do I get more of it?"

The good news about Jesus answers this question through the power of a conversation, and no other conversation carried as much life and death significance than Jesus’ confrontation with power at the end of his life.

John recorded two conversations between Jesus and a Roman governor named Pilate. The Side A and Side B conversations. Jesus and Pilate, Side A, begins in chapter 18, verse 33:

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

We can already sense from his the tone that Pilate felt tension in this conversation, and we’ll learn why in a moment.

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Here again, Jesus created a conversation through what... a question, but this time, on the other side of Jesus’ conversation, stood a Roman governor named Pilate, a self-interested, conflicted leader, who we will come to see, sought to preserve his positional seat of power at all cost, because any threat to his power meant a threat on his life.

If a Roman emperor felt apprehensive about a governor’s allegiance or ability to rule, then no one prevented that emperor from making a directive for that governor to end his own life.

And believe it or not, this was a frequent occurrence among governors.

The Chief Priests knew this. They leveraged Pilate’s fear when they brought Jesus before him, and charged Jesus with his unlawful declaration to another kingdom. This was the most grievous charge of the empire, resulting in immediate death, regardless of whether or not the charges proved true! The empire did not assume innocence until proven guilty.

So for Pilate, truly, two lives hung in the balance with this conversation - Jesus'... and his own. If Pilate did not put Jesus to death, then no doubt, Rome would have heard about it and brought death to Pilate.

Certainly, Pilate was not going to sacrifice his own life for that of a no-name Jewish prophet.

Aware of this, Jesus still engaged the conversation with Pilate. Jesus still gave Pilate dignity, as he spoke truth to power, knowing full well what his fate would be. Jesus even leveraged this opportunity to proclaim good news, telling Pilate, “My kingdom is from another place."

Neither the political power of the empire, nor the religious power of the elite chief priests, reflected the true power of Jesus’ kingdom. That kingdom, Jesus says, is my kingdom, and It's free from the broken, evil characteristics of this world…

Jesus’ kingdom isn’t from this world, but it’s for this world.

How do we know this? Because Jesus' entire life on this side of heaven bore witness to just how much he desires for us to live with him as his royal kingdom princes and princesses.

So much so that less than 12 hours from this conversation, Jesus would be dead.

Pilate continued:

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate’s trying to get the facts. Is Jesus or is Jesus not… a king? If he is, then execute him. But if not, then free him.

As a governor, Pilate anticipated kings from other kingdoms to attempt overthrows and coups. That’s what powers do against other powers. They try to gobble up other powers in order to become more powerful.

Pilate, however, isn’t making the connection that Jesus’ kingdom comes from another place entirely, whose kingdom expansion comes by way of truth, not might.

In the opening preface to his letter, the Gospel-writer, John, wrote:

“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” [[[John 1:17-18 NIV]]]

Jesus incarnated God’s truth and entered into our world to testify to it!

But Pilate missed it. Staring at him, even, Pilate missed it and asked:

38 “What is truth?”

This is the question... of every kingdom... every institution... and every human being…

It is the one question that power itself cannot answer: What is truth?

Interestingly in this conversation, Jesus doesn’t answer Pilate’s question, at least not explicitly. Because he didn’t need to.

His life is the truth. His very life! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus’ kingdom isn’t ruled by fear. It doesn't advance through military might. It isn’t elected. Rather, Jesus’ kingdom exists wherever grace and truth exist. His kingdom advances as we walk the way of our king in grace and truth.

Pilate missed it.

The empires of our world often do...

The empires of our hearts often do, too…

Pilate was blinded by his own pursuit and preservation of power. Like many of us, Pilate probably thought he knew what truth looked like. He probably thought it looked like a Roman emperor who could take life in a matter of a few words.

In our world, we tend to confuse power with truth. We tend to think that whoever has the power makes the truth. That truth can be elected and awarded.

I think sometimes we tangle up truth with political policies and agendas. Other times we confuse truth with the loudest cultural voice screaming in our ears, or the latest song that plays our heart chords and catches our raw emotion. Sometimes truth gets messy when someone we love shares a passionate plea.

Truth gets tangled up in so many layers of our politics and culture, our families, our relationships, and also our personal affections. It does for all of us.

Thus why this conversation with Pilate matters today. "What is truth,” Pilate asked? This is our question too, and Jesus answered it on the B side of the conversation, beginning in chapter 19, verse 9:

“Where do you come from?” [Pilate] asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have powereither to free you or to crucify you?”

[[[play song]]] “I've got the power!”

Pilate’s frustrated. He’s conflicted. I think he knows that Jesus is innocent, but no doubt, he’s feeling the weight of the chief priests and the Roman Emperor bearing down on his own self-preservation, so instead, Pilate changes tactics. No more good cop.

He threatens his own power against Jesus. Pilate wants Jesus to either confess to his own kingship or innocence, so you choose, says Pilate. Life or death. You decide, and I’ll act.

This is how transactional power works.

You do something for me, and I’ll do something for you. You hurt me, and I’ll hurt you. You decide how I treat you. Forget that you’re a human being with dignity. Transactional power says I’ll treat you how you treat me, not treat others how you would want to be treated.

Jesus gave dignity to Pilate, despite whatever outcome occurred from this conversation. Pilate, on the other hand, transacts with Jesus.

But transactional power is futile.

It’s hopeless. It always leads to either angst for the one on the top or fear for the one on the bottom. Ultimately, however, neither one ever feels safe.

I think a lot of relationships - personal, collegial, business - live in this transactional power zone. What’s the most I can get from you, while giving you the least from me?

This is the root of every sin: What do I need to do to take and keep power?

This is Genesis 3:5 working itself out in the world, in our everyday lives. “You will be like God.” This is the temptation of the evil one: it’s power!

And power is the trump card that Pilate used on Jesus. I’ve got the power of life and death over you, don’t you realize this Jesus?

11 Jesus answered [Pilate], “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”

What an audacious claim!

I’m not under your power, Pilate, says Jesus. I’m not under your authority. I am under the power of the one who sent me, who happens to be the same one who gave your power to you.

All power, Jesus says, derives from God, who graciously entrusts power to some, even to those who may use freely use their own will to do wickedness and evil.

Even Jesus himself, the incarnate God, doesn’t challenge Pilate’s authority over him.

Rather, Into the eyes of one of the most powerful men on earth, Jesus says, “Any power you think you have, even over my own life, all comes from my kingdom, so you wouldn’t have it, Pilate, unless I had not already given it to you.”

No human being contains some secret wellspring of endless power.

All empires, all people hold their power under the ultimate authority of God, and somehow in the mystery of God’s freedom toward us, we can use it either to honor God or our own way.

______________

Underneath our English translation of power is a Greek word play between Pilate’s understanding of power and Jesus’ understanding of power.

Both Pilate and Jesus spoke a word called ‘exousia,’ which literally means ‘power,’ but whose root derives from a mash up of two other Greek words called: ‘ek’ and ‘eimi.’

Ek eimi = exousia.

‘Ek’ means ‘out of’ and ‘Eimi’ means ‘I am.’ ‘Out of’ … ‘I am.'

Pilate means to say that power derives from out of me, out of my will, out of my own volition to make my decisions my way and assert myself.

That’s how Pilate intended to use the word ‘exousia.'

Jesus, however, said that all power comes from above… ‘out of’ … ‘I am.’

First century listeners would have understood the word play and heard within it the ancient Hebrew name for God: “I am.”

Exousia - true power - as declared by Jesus comes from the great “I am."

Throughout the writings of the Bible, the authors analogized God’s power as the great “I am” to rushing waters and mighty streams like a Niagara Falls, unceasing and unrestrained.

[[[play Niagara Falls video with sound rushing through the thimble story]]]

In comparison, our lives leak like cracked thimbles, longing for fulfillment and satisfaction.

If we believe that power comes from “out of me” from our own limited and finite resources, then we will always be tempted to believe that we can only be filled by other broken, leaky thimbles.

Hence why we try to control and manipulate one another... why we try to take what’s in each other’s little cracked thimbles to fill our own little cracked thimble… Why we start thimble wars… Why we burn with thimble jealousy.

When if we changed perspectives, then our lives could be filled by a Niagara Falls of rushing power that never ends. Where grace and truth never cease. Where satisfaction can always be found.

Our cracked thimble lives can be filled so long as we live surrendered to the one from whom all power and authority flows.

We can do this in a few ways:

Be in it, but not of it.

Be in the world, but not of the world. Accept your position of power, but don’t abuse it. Jesus was God and possessed all of the power of heaven and earth, but Jesus didn’t abuse it, nor did he even consider it something to be grasped. Instead, Jesus leveraged every bit of his power to testify to the real source of truth.

You can utilize your positional authority for the very same reason in whatever capacity you serve. Every act of power should be shaded in colors of grace and truth.

Every time you use your power toward that end, you bear witness to God’s grace and truth, even if didn’t evoke the name of Jesus when you did it.

How so?

Because you represented a truthful expression of power, which proclaims in our broken world who gave you the power, and that shouts louder than words.

Every time you honor others with your power, do good, maintain your integrity and character, and live with humility, you point your power upward and reflect the goodness of our true King.

Participate in it, but don’t be possessed by it.

Who owns your heart, really? Does Jesus own your heart? Or does some political affiliation or brand own your heart?

Participate in power, but don’t let it own you.

Get into proximity of it.

Invest your time into people of influence and authority.

Listen to them with intent.

Seek to understand.

Ask good questions of them.

Hold them responsible.

Keep the conversation open with them.

Speak truth to power.

Respect those in power.

But seek also to invite those in seats of power into Jesus’ story.

Help them understand who owns their power…

Sometimes I wonder what Jesus would say to those in positions of high power in our society. What would Jesus say to the President, CEO’s, and people leading our nation and the world? What do you think that conversation might sound like?

I think Jesus would ask a lot of questions, listen well, show dignity and respect, and graciously tell the truth – not “truth” from the opposing side of the argument - but truth about a different kingdom entirely.

As Jesus followers, let’s do the same graciously speak the truth in love, seeking the best of the other! Not the kind of truth that blinds! But the kind of truth that frees!

Participate in it, but don’t be possessed but it.

Associate with it, but don't align to it.

Your alliance belongs to Christ and Christ alone. Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthian church,

"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

You are an ambassador of the true King with all of the power and rights bestowed upon you by King Jesus. To align your heart elsewhere would be to rebel against Jesus’ kingdom.

Associate with other powers, but don’t align to them. Get within range of others who need to hear the good news of what this kingdom offers: salvation… new life… forgiveness!

So don’t be ashamed of what you believe. The enemy exploits those weaknesses within us.

We’re always just one decision away from slipping into the Pilate side of the conversation, aren’t we? Making up our own truth and washing our hands of it, letting our decisions fall where they may. We’re seeing this happen everywhere. There’s a Pilate in all of us, living in the shadows of our hearts.

If you maintain a Jesus perspective on power, though, then all of a sudden, none of those other powers and principalities of this world will have any control over you.

As an ambassador of the true king, Jesus promises to guard your heart and mind and offer you peace that transcends all understanding in the face of whatever obstacle comes your way.

In Christ, you’ve got the power of the king residing within you to bear witness to grace and truth at all times. To proclaim the good news about another kingdom not from this world, but for this world!

Today is Palm Sunday when we remember King Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, proclaiming the kingdom of God, not on a stallion, but on a donkey. When we remember the greatest display of leadership ever recorded in human history, not from a C-suite office, but from God incarnate who de-robed and humiliated himself to wash the feet of his closest followers.

You want the power? [[[PLAY AUDIO]]] I’ve got the powerYou can have the power, but it looks like that. Power through servant leadership. Power expressed through grace and truth.

With the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you can have mega dynamite energy power exploding from inside of you… as you surrender your heart to King Jesus and love others.

You are the conduit of Holy Spirit mega dynamite energy. That is the literal translation of power from Ephesians 3:20. You have the power to extend an invitation to freedom. You have the power to help others find Jesus. Easter is the greatest opportunity to invite, so use your power - use your mega dynamite energy - to extend an invitation, love well, and speak truth to power.

You can have every bit of power you could ever imagine to change the world in Christ’s name!

King Jesus...