Power or Weakness?

And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying……”Save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ “ (Matthew 27:39-43)

I wonder if it was a temptation for Jesus, to do what they were saying-to come down from the cross in the hopes that they would in fact believe in Him. Oh, He knew they were mocking Him. But He faced that temptation through every step of His ministry, to get people to believe through acts of power instead of weakness-to gather followers through miracles and promises of earthly victories. And this is more of the same. Should He use His power as the Son of God to save Himself through a miracle? Or go through with God’s plan, suffering, dying , and trusting that God the Father would raise Him up from the dead?

We know what Jesus chose. And He goes on choosing it in our lies as well-all the times when we beg God to do miracles for us, and He replies instead, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, when You insist on having me muddle through my life the hard way, instead of doing miracles for me, help me to trust You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

If Jesus had done what they suggested-what would have happened to us?

Why do you think God say “no” to our prayers for miracles so often?

How do you continue to trust His love for you, even when He says no?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. , Lutheran Hour Ministry