Power and Purpose
On March 26, 2022, Danny Grigsby became the first athlete to lift a weight of over 1,000 pounds. He lifted 1025 pounds or 465 kilograms (deadlift). A few months later, he lifted 487.5 kgs. That's a lot of weight. Nearly half a tonne! It's an achievement. A huge achievement. And I guess that's the purpose, right? To achieve something. Like most sports, it's about achieving. The Olympic Games motto is "faster, higher, stronger".
But why?
To simply achieve more as humanity? To simply be better? Perhaps that's enough. But there's a much greater show of power that has a much greater purpose for all of humanity...
Ephesians 1:19-23
19... That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The power of God is more than a world record or a simple display of strength. It is power with a purpose. God's power is the power that he used to raise Jesus from the dead. God's power not only raised Christ from the dead but also seated him on the heavenly throne. This was the purpose of Jesus' resurrection - to restore him to his seat of power, over all things, having defeated the greatest enemy - death. And because he has defeated death, he takes that throne forever. No other will come along and "break his record". None can challenge this power because he is the only one with this power. And because of this, he is the head over all things. And we, the church, are his body (verse 23). Which means we are under the most powerful ruler of all.
This is power with a purpose - power to reign forever and power to raise the dead.
Jesus' power cannot be beaten. He cannot be outdone. No one can "lift" more than him. He has lifted the weight of death from humanity and all who trust in him come under his reign, and will also reign over death.
Power. With purpose.
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for the power you have displayed over death, defeating it once and for all. Thank you for the promise of resurrection to all who believe and put their trust in you. Help me to trust in your power, to trust in your strength, and to trust in your rule over this world, and over my life.
Amen.