11. THE POWER OF CHRIST

 

I. “All power is given Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. xxviii. 18). Power is a characteristic of great men, and especially of God’s servants. Our Lord, in His Humanity, necessarily possessed a supernatural power of doing great works and miracles. It belonged to Him as the greatest of mankind and the Father of the supernatural life in them; also because in Him the supernatural and the natural were united perfectly; also because it was the necessary means of manifesting to men His supernatural and divine office. This power, as exercised by the Sacred Humanity, was not divine omnipotence; still, He was able as man to do all that He desired. Either He had an inherent power from the Divinity to raise the dead, cure diseases, etc., or it may be that the power was granted by the Divinity in answer to the prayers and merits of the Humanity. This latter seems to be implied in Christ’s words: “Father, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast heard Me; and I knew that Thou hearest Me always” (John xi. 41, 42). In any case it was a permanent power in Our Lord on account of the Divine Person of the Word which was united with His human nature; it was not like the miraculous powers of Moses, Elias and the saints, which were given to them occasionally for some special action which God moved them to do. Jesus is present always in His Church, and with you personally when in the state of grace. His power is communicated to you according to your needs. “He that believeth in Me, the works that I do he shall do also” (John xiv. 12). What perfect confidence and fearlessness this should give you!

II. Consider how Jesus Christ uses His power. 

1. With great modesty. He concealed it often, forbade men to speak of it, and accompanied it with special humiliations, such as those which surrounded His birth and His death. We, on the other hand, value our talents and powers as the means of asserting ourselves and impressing others with our superiority. 

2. With benevolence towards men, gentleness, and utility. So Our Lord never used His power for punishment or destruction, except for the sake of the lesson of the barren fig tree. He would not destroy with fire from heaven the city that hardened its face against Him (Luke ix. 55). He would not use His power to gratify curiosity, by working wonders in the heavens or before Herod; nor for His own advantage by changing stones into bread, or descending from the cross. We always misuse our powers, from savage kings who must “wash their spears” periodically, to great nations with a “civilizing mission.” 

3. In submission to God and for His glory. “The Father who abideth in Me, He doth the works” (John xiv. 10). You have power of some sort: see that you use it for proper objects and motives like your divine model.

III. “Have confidence; I have overcome the world” (John xvi. 33). Power is not complete unless it crushes opposition and becomes predominant. Consider how Jesus Christ gained His victories. 

1. By enduring without resistance all the misrepresentations and violence of His enemies, and emerging glorious and stronger than before. This is a greater manifestation of power than crushing violence by violence. 

2. By converting His enemies, sinners. Every holy life, every soul saved, every act of virtue, is a triumph of Christ’s power, for it proceeds from Him alone: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John xv. 5). 

3. By judging. Having died for us and done all that was possible for us, Our Lord “hath been appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead” (Acts x. 42). This will be the final triumph of the power of Christ over obstinate sin, unbelief, blasphemy, immorality. In one mode or another “He must reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. xv. 25). All opposition will be reduced to eternal impotence, and those who ignored the power of Christ as Saviour will not escape from it in judgment. Seek for yourself and for the Church no other triumph but that of Christ.