The Superbowl and non-resistance

I considered skipping the superbowl. Now I really wish I would have.

Even at halftime I expected Brady to start whipping out 25 and 30 yard passes to push the Pats down for a second, third, and even fourth touchdown. I felt the power I had over pretty much everyone else in the room (who were rooting for the Giants), and I liked it; but I felt the words of Christ calling me to lay it down. I know that sounds like a meager display of piety; but if I can't lay down that opportunity to overpower those around me in such a small situation, how would I lay it down when it came to physical blows.

As the game wound down my motives admittedly turned more towards self preservation in case the Giants got their offense moving. I knew the more I flapped my jaw, the more I would get it back afterwards. Just about the time Manning dodged the sack and launched the completed pass downfield, I knew I was a goner. My brother's and sisters in Christ were out for blood. Mine and Brady's. Unforunately Brady wasn't in the room

I hope I don't seem like I'm demonizing my high school brothers and sisters. I had inward feelings of my own; namely visualizing myself throwing a frisbee accross the room to hit a couple of them in the head.

The second temptation that Satan presented to Jesus shows a laying down of this power. (Matthew 4) Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem to the top of the temple. This was the center of all religious life. I'm not sure what more Satan or Jesus said, but it didn't need to be said. Jesus could probably see the pharisees off to the right under Solomon's porch as he looked over the edge. He could have jumped from the temple and had angels come at a moments notice to catch Him. He could have levitated slowly down to the front of the temple.

Think of the response of the crowds, of the pharisees. Jesus could have silenced them, he could have shown in a drastic miraculous way from the start that He was the messiah. But he laid down the power. At any time Jesus could have silenced their incessant rambling and mockery with a thought, concocting some kind of sign or wonder, but He didn't.

Luke 23:35-37 echos this temptation. "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." The armies of heaven were on standby, ready to relinquish the suffering of their commander. He could have stepped down off that cross and started a revolution in Palestine, working His way to Rome. There he would spread his rule to the very palace of the emperor. Instead, He stayed on the cross and started a revolution in Palestine that worked it's way to Rome. There a man stayed under house arrest spreading the rule of Christ to the very palace of the emperor.

Christ's temptation was much deeper than my petty experience with a super bowl party. My ability to defend myself was limited and the cause was.... stupid. Jesus had every right to defend His honor as King over creation. His ability to defend Himself and even exact his revenge was unlimited (mine was very much dependent on the Pats winning). He could make those who mocked him suffer like no one has ever suffered before; and yet he said "Father forgive them." Even after His resurrection he could have appeard to them and gave the old "nanny nanny na na!" Just to mock them. Instead He silently appeared to some of his closest followers, informing them that they would be treated much the same way that He was. The victory party was private and unpublicised.

There is much temptation in the power we have on a day to day basis. Christ doesn't call us to be powerless, He calls us to use that power for His purposes. Non-resistant love is laying down our ability to harm others, and serving them instead. That is what will turn heads, and hearts to the passionate love of Jesus Christ (whom I recently heard Shance Clayborne refer to as) "The only King who died for his enemies."


Do all in love to Jesus Christ