Eph 131 (S7E16) Where the Power Lies

References:Still being in the season of Easter I wanted to share with you some powerful insights the Lord laid on my heart that I shared with people at our late Good Friday Service.Reading the Passion According to St John 18:1-19:42Three images of powerJohn 18:3-9John 19:5-11John 19:25-27The display of worldly power met by True PowerAs the contingent arrived with torches, clubs and weapons, Jesus “stepped forward.”Jesus interrogated this group, “who are you looking for?”When they said Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus said “I Am.” - Ἐγώ εἰμι - ego eimiMoses asking God at the burning bush “Who should I say sent me?” God responded with “I Am that I Am. Tell them ‘I Am’ sent you.”At Jesus’ declaration of the divine name, the one’s who thought they had all the power were defeated, knocked over.The person who had the worldly power in that entire region is corrected by the I Am with all the real power.Pilate brings the scourged, abused, bloodied, thorn crowned Jesus out to the people following the strong-arming of the soldiers.The religious leaders say Jesus deserves to die because He claimed to be “son of god.”I put son and god in lower case to suggest how Pilate may have heard these words.That would have reminded him of how the Roman Emperor would take the name “divi filius,” Latin for son of god.Pilate plays his last power card.Don’t you realize I have the authority to set you free or crucify you?Jesus corrects Pilate. You have no authority except what has been given to you from My Father.In Jesus’ final sayings from the cross He demonstrates the power to still obey His Father by keeping the 5th of the 10 commandments.Honor your father and mother.Jesus saw to the completion of His obedience by entrusting John with it’s fulfillment.He calls us to fulfill His love for others by the new commandment to love others as we’ve been loved by Jesus.