Ancient Greeks loved power. They loved to talk about power and think about power – specifically what they would do if they had absolute power! For them, power was the highest attribute of all, greater than anything else. They idealised this love of and longing for power in their gods. When it came to gods, power was more important than morality.
The Greeks reasoned that if a god were to submit to a code of morality, then that god would be inferior to that code or whoever might enforce that code or whoever codified the code in the first place. And a god couldn’t be inferior to anything.
So the gods in Greek mythology periodically broke their promises, just to prove that they could do whatever they wanted and no one could say a word to them about it. They were capricious. They said they’d do one thing but then did another. They flexed their muscles just to prove who was in charge. They were unstable and unpredictable. They threw a lightning bolt down on some poor, unsuspecting mortal just because. They made laws, and then they broke their laws. And if you questioned them on it, they sent a pox on your house for questioning them.
But the God of the Bible isn’t like the Greek gods. The very fact that YHWH approached Abraham with a covenant promise meant that God was intentionally willing to limit His power. In making a promise, God eliminated a great deal of possible actions on His part. God could no longer not bless Abraham’s descendants. He committed Himself to a particular course of action.
For the God of the Bible, the willing restraint of power – in other words, humility – is an even greater attribute than the possession of absolute power.
An immature person feels the need to constantly flex and parade his power to impress people. A mature and differentiated person feels comfortable enough to practice self-control. There is no better example of this principle than the life of Jesus. In the story of His temptation in the wilderness, we can clearly see His determination to maintain His self-imposed limitations.
Think of it: Satan tries to get Jesus to do three simple things, things that would not have been difficult for Him. “Turn stones into bread. If You can make stones out of nothing, how hard would it be to change them into something different? If You’re really all that powerful, c’mon show me Your muscles.”
But Jesus refuses.
“Okay, throw Yourself off the top of the Temple. Prove to everyone that You’re not subject to the laws of gravity or cause-and-effect like everyone else. You know God’s not going to let His Son die like that. If You’re really who You say You are, prove it.”
But Jesus refuses.
“Okay, if You won’t prove it to me, I’ll prove it to You. I have the power to transfer power over all the kingdoms of the earth to anyone I choose. Wanna see? Wanna see me flex my muscles?”
Once more, Jesus refuses.
Jesus understands that people don’t need a God who can flex His muscles for His own benefit. People need a God who will keep His promises and use His power for their benefit.
Ancient Greeks loved power.
YHWH loves people.
Prayer
God of grace, I give You thanks and praise that You desire to have an intimate relationship with me as an adopted child in Your heavenly household. Your power and might are boundless and transcend human comprehension. I cannot fathom even the fringe of Your ways. And yet You have chosen to use Your power to love and serve people who are weak and insignificant apart from You. You have restrained Yourself to accommodate the needs of Your people, and the clearest display of the humility of restrained strength is the Lord Jesus Christ. I am amazed that He never did anything to impress people, but that all His actions were intended to serve them. He came in humility, walked in humility and died in humility, and yet He was the most powerful person the world has ever known or could ever know. Thank You for the gift of Your other-centred love and grace.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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