Energy, power and strength come from God. This psalm ends on a note of confidence as David proclaims that ‘the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!’ (v.35). Amazingly, God promises to give you his power and his strength.
David prays, ‘Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before’ (v.28). In contrast, he is dismissive of any attempt to seek power elsewhere. He talks of the worldly power of an evil regime, ‘Rapacious in her lust for silver, crushing peoples’ (v.30, MSG). Yet he knows that ultimately such power ‘will submit… to God’ (v.31). David knows from his own experience that God’s power is more than enough for all his needs.
Thank you, Lord, that you will give ‘power and strength’ to your people. Fill me today with your energy, power and strength.
JOHN 19:28-20:9
2. What is it like?
God gives to you the same energy, strength and power that he used to raise Jesus from the dead.
I remember a time when I was speaking at a conference for church leaders. I had been speaking for several hours each day and felt completely exhausted and drained. During a break, I happened to open The Message Bible translation at Ephesians 1:19–20: ‘The utter extravagance of his work in us who trust in him – endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death’. I felt re-energized from above.
In this passage, John emphasizes that Jesus had truly died. When he had ‘completed’ (John 19:28a) the job he had been given to do, thereby fulfilling the Scripture (v.28b), he cried out, '“It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up (paradoken) his spirit' (v.30).
His last act is to give the gift of the Spirit. He breathes out his Spirit as later he will breathe on his disciples and also give them his Spirit.
Death by crucifixion could be sped up by breaking the person’s legs. In Jesus’ case, this was not necessary, as he was already dead (v.33). ‘Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water’ (v.34). At death the clot and serum of the blood separates, and this would look like blood and water. John provides good medical evidence that Jesus was truly dead.
It may be that there were already people at the time arguing that Jesus did not really die, but only seemed to. This view came to be known as docetism. Mohammed was influenced by docetic views. The Quran states, ‘They did not kill him, neither did they crucify him; it only seemed to be so’ (Sura 4:157).
John emphasises that Jesus really did die – he gives the physiological evidence. He also shows that Jesus’ death was in accordance with the will of God revealed in Scripture: ‘These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced”’ (John 19:36–37).
In the blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus, we see a symbol of hope. Water symbolises the Spirit. The water flowing from the heart of Jesus will heal, cleanse and energise us all.
The body of Jesus was wrapped in linen cloths and seventy-five pounds (34 kg) of spices. If anyone had removed the body, surely they would have removed the lot. No thief would have left the only items of value. Jesus certainly could not have taken the grave clothes off himself (humanly-speaking). Yet the disciples found ‘the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself’ (vv.6–7, MSG).
As William Temple, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, pointed out that the language used is extraordinarily vivid, and ‘such as no invention would devise, no freak of imagination conjure up’.
On this evidence, it is hardly surprising that when the disciples saw, they believed (20:8). At this stage no one had even seen the risen Jesus. Yet the evidence of the state of the tomb and the absence of Jesus’ body was enough in itself to convince them of the resurrection.
They had believed that Jesus was the Messiah before. But this was different. They ‘saw and believed’ that God’s power and energy had raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was alive again. This was unexpected sunshine. Winter was over. Spring had come.
When the New Testament speaks of God’s love, the focus is the cross. When the New Testament speaks of God’s energy, power and strength, the focus is the resurrection (Ephesians 1:19–20). We rightly think of power belonging to God. Yet we so easily forget that God’s power is also ‘for us who believe’ (v.19).
The same power and energy that raised Jesus Christ from the dead now lives in you.