"You live on dead dreams; you live on the myths of the past. The glory of Solomon is gone and you think it will return? Joshua will not rise again to save you, nor David. There is only one reality in the world today. Look to the West, Judah! Don't be a fool, look to Rome!"
~ Messala to Judah in the movie Ben-Hur

Messala, a Roman tribune, was so sure of himself, so certain that he understood power and how to use it. Without question, he would have scoffed at the idea of a Jewish messiah, or deliverer.

And for a time, he would have appeared to be on the winning side.

Consider the events of Holy Week. The followers of Jesus had been so sure he was the One. A week before Passover, they had strewn their cloaks and palm branches before him as he entered Jerusalem, shouting lustily, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

And then the crucifixion… What hope was there now?

A silent tomb, guarded by seasoned soldiers, held the lifeless body of Jesus. A day passed, then two… There was no change in the status quo. The powers that be began to breathe a collective sigh of relief. There would be no resurrection as the “impostor” had promised while still alive. No, the world was safely back on course… predictable and temporal. 

Then came the third day, Easter Sunday, and a display of power unlike anything the world had ever seen. Some years later, the apostle Paul would describe it as the greatness of God’s power given to us who believe… the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20)

Our natural inclination is to think of physical strength as real power – be it the might of a nation’s military or the power of a fighter’s punch. Take Roberto Durán of Panamá, for instance. He once held the world boxing title in four separate weight classes! His nickname says it all: Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone). I don’t want to take anything away from a great boxer; after all, it is the “manly art”. But hands of stone do not constitute the greatest power.

I remember as a young man in my late twenties, not yet a Christ follower or church attendee, reading the Bible for the first time in my life. When I came to the story of the leper in the Gospel of Mark, chapter one, I took a blow right between the eyes!

Allow me to quote the passage for you: A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed.” Instantly the leprosy disappeared and the man was healed. (Mark 1:40-42)

I was flabbergasted when I read these words. Who was this man unafraid to break with the convention of his times and show such love? I had studied history enough to know that no self-respecting person at the time of Jesus would have touched a leper. But Jesus had something Roberto Durán (at least in the ring) did not have. He had manos de amor (hands of love).

Make no mistake. The manos de amor wielded by Jesus were a formidable weapon. When he touched the leper, the devil “took it on the chin”. The leper was healed and set free! It was a victory by knockout, or, I guess we might say “touch-out”.

As you contemplate the miracle of Easter, take time to also consider the strength and gentleness of God. His power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9). He has conquered the grave and given us the hope of resurrection.

AT BETHEL UNIVERSITY
 

For those of you in the Twin Cities area, why don’t you come out to Bethel University the evening of April 17th for a screening of Sabina K. and a meet-and-greet with the director?

Starts at 6:30pm in Clauson Center, Room 313.

Remember, you can watch Sabina K. on Amazon Prime anytime you like! It’s for free if you’re a Prime member.

Visit our website at www.messengerfilms.com and thank you for praying for these ongoing film projects…

The Heart
The Puzzle Factory
Life or Death
The Search

To God be the glory!