Thursday, December 5, 2002

Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. The devil said, "I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me and you can have it all." Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' " Luke 4:5-8

Some have said that power is a seductive thing. After all, people really pay attention to someone they think is powerful. The person who holds control over other people must feel very strong, perhaps invincible. With that kind of muscle, Jesus could have commanded people to do what he wanted them to do listen to him and under his leadership, serve God. As the saying goes, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch," and the devil, being unwilling to allow unconditional power to Jesus, sets a bargain. This heady authority and dominion over the world is yours, Jesus and all you have to do is step over to the dark side and worship me.

Centuries later, Lord Acton wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This well-known saying gives the impression that anyone with power basically sells his or her soul to the devil; it's just a matter of degree. But Jesus, in rejecting the devil's bargain, didn't reject power itself; he refused to relinquish his service and devotion to God. It's not the power that's the problem; it's the "Godlessness" that may result.

The heads of nations, the CEO's of corporations, the police all come to mind as people we think of as powerful. Each day, the newspapers and media recite stories of the abuse of power by one or another of these people.

Jesus must have had a strong sense, even at this early stage of his ministry that he was a powerful person, but he knew his power came from God and his work was to use this power to do God's will, to do God's work.

The power that Jesus had is in all of us too. The strength that comes from our relationship with God sustains and fortifies us to do God's work and serve God's people in whatever way we can.

Claudia Stine


All contents copyright 2002 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.