the    sides

This is part of our e-journey through the gospel of John. Today is from John 13.

Camber is watching the Star Wars movies in order (minus Revenge of the Sith). Her favorite one - Empire Strikes Back. (Yes, I have raised my daughter right.) She calls it the snow one. The good thing is that now she understands half my jokes and quotes…like when they say they’re not scared and I reply…

“You will be. You WILL be.”

The cool thing about Camber is that she is really able to “get” movies. (Why this doesn’t translate over to the real world, I’ve yet to figure out.) For example, she told me last night - “You know Dad that all of these movies are really about saving Darth Vader.”

I don’t know if it was because I was tired or in awe or both but all I could manage was a “Hmm. Good stuff, Cammy.”

So this morning when I read this - “Jesus knew that the Father had put ALL THINGS under his power…” - it kinda threw me off for a sec. Jesus’ march to the cross was AVOIDABLE… if he wanted it to be. Jesus didn’t HAVE to wash stinky feet that night, especially the feet of the one who would betray him and the feet of those who would abandon him.

Jesus had the power to put the “Force Grip” on them and say - “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

But he didn’t. True power was serving them in unconditional love to the place where their character and heart were changed enough so that they began to serve others not out of force or guilt, but out of free will and love. This whole evening was a “test” of Jesus - did he realize the power of the dark side? To make people do what he wanted? Did he understand that he had all authority under heaven and earth at his discretion?

Yes, he did…and he knew that it would not be enough to redeem. Way before Yoda, Jesus seemed to know that the “dark side” was quicker, but not stronger. True power is shown through serving in love then watching the transformation take place.