Lest We Forget - Lesson 4, The Power
and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. - Hebrew 1:3a part 2
As you sit in your vehicle waiting for the light to turn green you may notice your vehicle rock a little as vehicles traveling in the opposite direction go past you. Without getting too deep into physics, a moving vehicle creates two pressure zones, high pressure in the front and low pressure in the back which creates a flow of air from the front to the back known as drafting. It also creates less air resistance for a vehicle traveling close behind the vehicle in front of it so that the vehicle behind travels with less resistance. Not ‘no’ resistance, just less resistance. Picture race cars or cyclists in a close line. What you feel when the vehicle passes you is the power of the draft that is trying to pull you in the same direction as the air flow from the passing vehicle. We’ll tie this in at the end of the lesson.
Last week we broke down how Jesus is the exact representation of God. And in Lesson 2 we learned that Jesus always existed. When you study the creation of the world as explained in Genesis you see everything being made by a spoken word. Got said it should be and it exists, that’s incredible power. That power is in Jesus as evidenced with miracle after miracle. Jesus simple speaks and it happens.
And he [Jesus] awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. - Mark 4:39
Let’s breakdown a couple of the words from our Scripture for today:
and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. - Hebrew 1:3a part 2
Upholds. The literal interpretation means to carry or bear and is often associated with servitude or a duty. “even as the Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 20:28.
Universe. Literally means, all things, in totality, comprehensive. The context of this word is all that God has promised from all time. Jesus carries with him, will bear all the promises, all the predictions, through his servitude on earth through human form including the requirement to take on, bear, all the sins of the world past, present, and future.
Power. This is an incredible word. It means physical power and force. Origin: Dunamis or Dynamis which is where we get the English word, Dynamite. It’s used throughout the Bible to describe the power of God and is used here to express the same power Jesus has by the same delivery as God, his word.
That same power is available to Christians but not unto themselves rather through them by the Holy Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” - Acts 1:8
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” - Ephesians 3:16
Jesus embodied all the power of God and through the gift of salvation the Holy Spirit makes that same power available to us. Not to be used for anything we want but to introduce others to Jesus. That same power is available to give us peace, comfort, and emotional healing. It also provides strength, boldness, and confidence in our faith.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. - Colossians 1:17-18a
Jesus is the head of the church leading us and we would be wise to keep him in front of us and to stay very close to him. Why? Because, Jesus has created a draft behind him which will pull us closer to him and help reduce the resistance to our efforts to praise him to others. As we follow him we will also create a draft ourselves which will help others who are following our lead.
The draft created by us following closely to Jesus will be felt by others who may be traveling in the opposite direction. When they experience the love of Christ through us, they will be drawn toward Jesus who has the power to heal them, to give them peace, and to strengthen them.
Next week we will look at the ultimate benefit of Christ Jesus’ power, the power to forgive.
