Power of Choice

SCRIPTURE: John 10:17-18 AMP For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.

THOUGHT: In a complicated dance of freedom and divine will, of a father and son’s mutual love and respect, Jesus makes the choice to die.

God issues a command and it is for freedom of choice. In this command, God gives up the right to demand that this plan for redemption be executed. No requirements for performance, only complete love for this son who loves him completely.

John 19 tells more of the story: Pilate says to Jesus during the trial, “’Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’ Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. (John 19:10-11 NIV).’”

Jesus has been given the freedom of giving up life and his Father has cleared the path of obstacles. Jesus can count loss as gain as Paul would later say of his own life. He can reach beyond death for the “joy set before him” as the writer of Hebrews would say, because this freedom to give life up is somehow connected to the power of resurrection – to take his life back again. It is a complicated act of freedom and sacrifice, and how glad I am that the freedom was given and the choice was made.

PRAYER: Jesus, you knew what it was like to feel complete, whole agape love, and somehow, I believe you knew it to be so wonderful that you could lay down your life – even lay down that love for a time, bearing the sin of the world, trusting the promise that you would pick life up on the other side and find that love again. Give us a glimpse, a taste of such love today, that we might use our freedom well too.