You Have Great Power at Hand
Jesus' example of meekness in the face of temptation shows us that true power comes from restraining ourselves and using our power for God's glory.
John Wesley emphasizes the immense power available to Jesus, as illustrated in Matthew 26:53, where He could have summoned legions of angels for His defense. In the Garden of Gethsemane, various responses to Jesus' betrayal are highlighted, contrasting the meekness of Jesus with the impulsive actions of His disciples and the crowd. Wesley points out that true power lies in restraint and obedience, as demonstrated by Jesus and the angels who awaited His command. He encourages believers to recognize the power they possess through the Holy Spirit and to exercise it with meekness, resisting worldly temptations. The sermon calls for prayer for meekness and the pursuit of opportunities to embody this virtue.
Text
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:53 It is the night on which Jesus is being betrayed, and He has been praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas arrives with a crowd armed with swords and clubs and kisses Jesus. A number of events follows: some of the men with Judas step forward and arrest Jesus; one of Jesus companion's steps forward, draws his sword and chops off the high priest's servant's ear; and Jesus calls for calm.
Each of these is doing what they think is right, but only one is exhibiting meekness. The people with Judas are probably just doing the job they have been given by the high priest, namely to seize Jesus and bring him to trial. The companion of Jesus (in John's Gospel he is named as Peter) who draws his sword and chops off the high priest's servant's ear probably thinks he is acting the way any friend should towards another person who is being treated unjustly. Perhaps you can identify with one of these responses.
And then there is the response of Jesus. In commenting on this verse, Wesley says of the angels that Jesus could call on: "twelve legions of angels - The least of whom, it is probable, could overturn the earth and destroy all the inhabitants of it." A legion was a regiment of the Roman army, the number of men composing which differed at different times. It originally consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of horsemen, who were in number a tenth of the foot-men.
That is a vast amount of power to have at your disposal and the temptation to use it for His own protection must have been great to Jesus the man. One marvels not only at His restraint, but at the restraint and obedience of the angels. Imagine how much they wanted to help Jesus, and imagine how they were just waiting to hear the command which would set them off in His defense. No such request from Jesus or command from God was forthcoming. Meekness balanced all the divine emotions and proved itself to be the real power that day.
We all have great power at our disposal. Sometimes it is power bestowed upon us because of our position or privilege in the workplace, in the home, or in society. As born-again Christians, we all have the power of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us as well. Using the power we have to the glory of God and in obedience to Him, and resisting the temptation to use the power we have as the world would have us use it requires meekness. Pray for this meekness and then look for opportunities to be meek today. The modest and meek The earth shall possess; The kingdom who seek Of Jesus's grace, The power of his Spirit Shall joyfully own, And all things inherit In virtue of one. (483)
Sermon Outline
- The Power of Meekness
- The Contrast of Human Responses
- Applying Meekness in Our Lives
- Praying for meekness
- Seeking opportunities to be meek
- Resisting the temptation to use power as the world would have us use it
Key Quotes
“twelve legions of angels - The least of whom, it is probable, could overturn the earth and destroy all the inhabitants of it.” — John Wesley
“Meekness balanced all the divine emotions and proved itself to be the real power that day.” — John Wesley
“The modest and meek The earth shall possess;” — John Wesley
Application Points
- Pray for meekness and ask God to help you use your power for His glory.
- Seek opportunities to be meek and humble in your daily life.
- Resist the temptation to use your power as the world would have you use it, and instead, use it to bring glory to God.