Different Kinds of Power (Free Version)
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost- 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
This week, all three lectionary passages show us something about human frailty, temptation, and the exercise of different kinds of power.
In (2 Samuel 11:1-15), David sees Bathsheba and desires her. We are unable to psychoanalyze David, but we understand that his circumstances included war and his choice to isolate himself (vs. 1). David was a man of great triumphs. And in this moment, rather than trusting God, he exercised his power in abusive ways which had repercussions for generations.
In telling this story, we are reminded of those (particularly women) who have been victims of abuse, especially at the hands of men in power. We are not told much about Bathsheba, but the fact that she was merely “sent for” by the king and that she was later described as “the woman,” indicate that she was on the underside of power. This narrative is nothing new and is not surprising for many women in our churches. We have the opportunity this week to clearly say “that’s not right” and to draw a contrast between selfish, objectifying power and the power of God that leads to life.
In our New Testament passage (Ephesians 3:14-21), we are reminded of our dependence on God and the power of prayer. Where David’s human power is self-interested, objectifying the other, God is the God who is self-giving, generous, always inviting us into into the divine life. Rather than “send for” us, he sent his Son and dwells in our hearts through faith. His power is different. Our God is radically generous and abundant. In him there is “immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.”
In our gospel text, (John 6:1-21) John is very strategic in locating the story during Passover. John wants us to see Jesus feeding God’s people in the wilderness just as God fed his people with manna in the desert (Exodus 16). In both instances, God feeds them miraculously with “bread from heaven.” This connection is mentioned explicitly in verse 30.
The crowds find themselves at the point of their need. They are looking for a king who will exert power of their behalf. They want a king who will conquer, who will dominate for them and they are prepared to make him king “by force.” Jesus’ power is altogether different from power “by force.” Jesus is indeed a liberator, and he will liberate by giving himself for the world. After he miraculously feeds the crowd, there are “twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” This illustrates the abundance of our God.
Just as John wants us to connect the feeding of the crowds with God’s provision for Israel in their wilderness wanderings, he wants us to see Jesus’ walking on water in connection with the crossing of the Red Sea and God’s lordship over the chaos.
No matter what we face, we do not have to resort to “send for” power or power “by force.” Instead we can trust in His loving power which is at work in us.
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