THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY - Church of the Virgin ...

The Lord Christ was not overcome by this vain glory: saveYourself to prove You are the Son of God, to prove Yourpower and amaze the world by the miracle... He was notovercome by such flattery nor by the wrong concept of power...He was able to come down from the cross, but He did not sothat we might be saved.The Lord Jesus Christ never thought of Himself, but of us.He did not care about saving Himself from death, but Hewas concerned about saving us. by redeeming us. He didnot yield to crucifixion out of weakness but out of love.He was unselfish, for love "does not seek its own, is not provoked"(1 Cor. 13:5). Had He been thinking of Himself and of how tobe glorified according to the world, He would not have emptiedHimself and taken the form of a slave... He did not think ofHimself because He came to give Himself up for us and thus Heproved to the world the power of His love and sacrifice,"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's lifefor his friends” (John. 15:13).That is how the Lord Christ set an example of power andovercoming oneself in the Cross. It was amazing how the LordChrist accepted all their iniquities:" ... as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He openednot His mouth" (Is. 53:7).He was aware of the plot against Him, but He did not resistevil... He calmly said to Judas Iscariot, "What you do, doquickly." (John. 13:27). The only justification for what theLord Christ did is His desire to die for us. He had the power to24