Real Strength

Jesus, of course, is the epitome of strength.  That statement is a no-brainer.  It might even cause you to click your tongue, roll your eyes heavenward, and mutter, "No duh!"  But stick with me.

Today's lesson will take us quickly through the reason for Christ's ministry, beginning in Jerusalem.  We are in Jn 2:15-20, where Jesus goes into the temple and turns over the tables of the money changers.  He tells them to "get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" (Jn 2:16 NIV). In verse 18, the Jews asked Him to "prove your authority to do all this" (Jn 2:18 NIV).  Then He refers to the temple of His body when He says, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up again in three days" (Jn 2:19 NIV).

How powerful is this passage?  Even back in the beginning of His ministry, Jesus knew His mission and was determined that it should be finished.  Jesus had the power, at all times, to save Himself, but His mission was to give eternal life to all who chose to follow Him to the cross.  He glorified God, as He finished what He was sent here to do.

God gives His grace to us, so that we can do His will; through trails that, without His grace, we could not make it.  But we do make it, not on our own power, but through His strength.  We are to manifest Jesus ~ wholly giving ourselves to God, just as Jesus did on the cross.  In this way, we follow Him to the cross, and beyond.