And They Will All Be Footnotes

 The impeachment proceedings have me thinking about power.  Who has power?  How are they using it?  The characters are before us.  Donald Trump.  Nancy Pelosi.  Mitch McConnell.  Adam Schiff.  And so on. 

We tend to think this is an exceptional time in history, but the struggle for power is a repetitive story.  Same plot, different characters.  Caesar Augustus.  Herod the Great.  They were the power brokers of their time.  Today they are mere footnotes in a history book. 

Trump.  Biden.  Pelosi. 

We obey our earthly rulers, but it’s healthy to remember: they too will be footnotes.  Rulers have come and gone.  Others will come and go.  They will mostly be forgotten one day, footnotes in history.  

One Name is still called upon every minute of every day.  Over the millennia, one Name is worshipped around the planet.  He is not a footnote; he’s the title of the whole story. 

A cornerstone of the Christian creed is that Jesus of Nazareth is Lord and King.  He uses his power in just and righteous ways, by contrast with those who leverage power for self-interest, personal advantage, or prestige.  

The power struggles in our country leave us frustrated, burdened, and feeling helpless. The fact that Jesus is the preeminent King gives us two things.  

First, the Kingship of Jesus demands HUMILITY.  

There’s an old farmer saying, “The most dangerous time for a pig is when it’s fat.”  When you have plenty, when you are full, strong, and in control, you are most vulnerable. 

Don’t be fooled by power, prestige, or position.  It’s a mirage.  Submit to the King.  Turn to him.  Trust in him, not in the power of your own might.  If you have any influence or power, any resource or position, use it humbly.  Use it wisely.  Be just and righteous.  Be humble.

Second, the Kingship of Christ gives us HOPE.  

Oppressive systems of power leave us feeling POWERLESS.  
If you have experienced abuses of power. 
If you’ve been bullied or mistreated. 
If you’re under the thumb of the power of addiction, illness, or economic ruin. 

Take hope.  A supreme Ruler governs your life, although his power will surprise you with its unconventional approach.  Jesus invaded our power-hungry world by fragile infancy.  His birth occurred under the decree of Caesar, the most powerful man in the known world.  His delivery slipped under the radar of Herod the Great.  An army was deployed to kill him, but not a finger touched the baby. Today we call this infant the King of all Kings and Lord of every Lord.  Our hope is in Him.

Yes, power games leave us feeling powerless.   But powerless can be a good position to be in.  Our Lord has always paid special attention to the powerless.   In his eyes, they are not footnotes.  For the helpless Jesus is quick to come with mercy and might.  Get ready.  Watch.  Wait.  

"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil. 2:10-11)

"And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”  (Col. 1:17-18)
​
 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  (Rev. 1:8)
​