The antidote to abusive power

A few months ago it was my turn to pick the film for date night. I opted for the most recent Mission Impossible film which, as it turned out, was the last Mission Impossible film: The Final Reckoning (say it in a deep voice).

With a title like that, you’re expecting big things.

To my delight, having been a fan of the long-standing film series, it delivered in every way. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is up against the Entity. Essentially here is A.I. gone wrong and coming alarmingly close to taking over the world.

Spoiler alert...

Despite the odds, Ethan wins. Was it ever in doubt?

There was one scene in particular that struck me. In defeating the Entity, Ethan had the opportunity to control the Entity. All the power in the world was quite literally in his hands. However, no-one can be trusted with that much power. It must be destroyed.

As British historian and moralist Lord Acton famously put it: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

A familiar story

It got me thinking. That idea comes up a lot in the plot lines of some of our culture’s most loved films. Harry Potter destroys the Elder Wand having defeated Lord Voldemort.

Frodo destroys the ring lest it fall into the evil hands of Sauron.

No-one can ever be trusted with that much power.

Indeed, rarely is that theme far from our news. What motives are really driving Gianni Infantino at FIFA? Did Scotland’s First Minister need to spend that much on business class flights to the World Cup? Why does Trump want to be friends with Kim? Can anyone be trusted with power? We’re pessimists at heart and, arguably, rightly so.

Power struggles?

And yet, it’s unmistakably true that the gospel writers portray Jesus as one with all authority.

Take Mark’s gospel for example. Jesus displays His authority in His teaching (1v21), in His command of evil spirits (1v23-27), over sickness (3v5) and nature (4v39). Such authority sees Him call people to follow Him (1v18) and declare the ability to forgive sins (2v10). It’s comprehensive and conclusive.

Such displays of authority understandably amaze the crowds (1v22). They’ve never seen nor heard anything like this. Jesus has no match.

However, that’s all well and good, but here’s the million-dollar question. What will Jesus do with His authority?

Where there’s a will…

Purposefully, Mark intertwines the accounts of the demonstrations of Jesus’ power with stories of His compassion. We’re meant to marvel at the stories of Jesus encountering Levi, the man with the withered hand, the demon-possessed man of the Decapolis, Jairus’ daughter and the women suffering from bleeding.

In particular, I love what Jesus says to the man with leprosy (1v40-45). Here is a man used to being an outcast. Begging for scraps from passers-by is his day job. No wonder he asks Jesus if He is willing to make him clean. Mark makes it clear that Jesus touched the man. That’s not an incidental detail. According to Levitical law that would mean that the man would confer his unclearness to Jesus. However, it turns out that Jesus transfers His cleanness to the man instead. He’s healed. So is Jesus willing? You’d better believe He is.

The great exchange

It’s a wonderful picture of the gospel, isn’t it? Jesus willingly takes our uncleanness on Himself. The sin, rebellion, mistakes, regrets and shame. He takes it upon Himself on the cross. In turn, united to Him, He shares His cleanness with us in the form of His righteousness.

The cross gives legs to Jesus’ claim that He has come not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (10v45). Jesus shows us that true gentleness is using one’s strength in the service of others.

It’s the wonderful thing about Jesus. In our world of power plays and abuses we find in Him a man who is all authority and all compassion. He is gloriously and perfectly both. That’s why He is worthy of our affection, obedience and trust.

And that means that despite our natural scepticism when it comes to power, mission impossible is possible with Jesus.