Upside-down Power
Series: Your Kingdom Come
“Jesus redefined the meaning of power when he refused to use violent force. Nevertheless, it was hard for him to toss the lure of force aside. Matthew and Mark report three occasions when Jesus spoke of suffering as the new form of messianic power. Each time the disciples were arguing over how much power and authority they would have in the kingdom. In all three cases, Jesus responded by teaching them about suffering discipleship.”
“The upside-down perspective uses power to empower others. It seeks to provide others with the resources for self-determination…We should distribute power as widely as possible.”
“Instead of pursuing the number one spot, he prods us to ignore the hierarchy as children do. He tells us to become blind to status differences and, like infants, see all others as equally significant despite their social rank. Instead of clamoring for more and more power, we followers of Jesus happily share it. We welcome interdependence. Rather than claiming self-sufficiency, we acknowledge our need for community and dependence on others. Blind to social distinctions, dependent on others, we live as children, for of such is God’s kingdom.”
~Donald Kraybill, “The Upside-Down Kingdom”