Jesus: the Peace that Matters (Peace it Together Day 3)

     

     It was Sunday morning.  The audience watched as Irma Fast Dueck took to the stage.  Some slouched in their seats - after all, this was Peace it Together, and many had not slept long.  Some had just woken up a few minutes before, sauntering across campus to the chapel.  They had spent the night playing cards, watching movies, and grilling CMU students about past stories.  Irma, as usual, was upbeat.  
     "Devil worship," she began.  There were confused faces in her audience.  Then she explained.  AC/DC.  Cards.  Dancing.  Many people in her community saw these things as Devil worship as she was growing up.  The Devil tempts Jesus a third time, promising him complete control over the nations if Jesus worships him.

     For the Devil, power is control.  Being at the top, not needing to vulnerable, unable to be hurt.  Control.

     Not so for Jesus.  Power for Jesus isn't about control because having control destroys relationships.  You can't have a relationship with someone you control.  The desire to manipulate hurts relationships.  Jesus is God with his control voluntarily stripped away.  Jesus can get angry without shaking the world.  Jesus can talk to anyone without their being scared of him.  Jesus strips away control so he can have relationships with people.

     The Devil was offering Jesus ultimate human power.  But taking that power would remove Jesus' ability to have relate to people as equals, which isn't why Jesus came.  


PIT is over!  Thanks to everyone who attended, as well as all the CMU students who helped out.  If what I saw was any indication, fun was definitely had!  Safe travels home and all the best!