Power Was Never the Point

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. – Matthew 20:26

Jesus spent a lot of time correcting misunderstandings about power. His disciples expected Him to overthrow Rome and establish dominance. Instead, He talked about servanthood. He told them that greatness in God’s kingdom looks nothing like greatness in the world.

The cross makes this clear. It was never meant to be a symbol of control or conquest. It was a symbol of self-giving love. Yet history shows how easily faith can be twisted when it becomes attached to power. When that happens, Scripture is used to justify harm instead of healing.

This does not only happen on a national or historical level. It happens in everyday life when we use faith to protect our comfort rather than challenge our hearts. When we use God language to win arguments instead of love people. When being right matters more than being kind.

Jesus did not carry the cross to gain influence. He carried it to give life. Following Him means choosing humility over dominance and service over status. It means remembering that faith is not about controlling others but caring for them.

The cross calls us to ask hard questions. Who is being helped by my choices? Who is being harmed? Who is being ignored? Jesus always moved toward the vulnerable, never away from them.

With this in mind, I want to invite you to consider where power might be shaping your faith more than love. The cross of Christ always points us back to compassion. That is where true discipleship begins.