THE GOD OF RESTRAINT

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

                In preparation for preaching a series in the Gospel of John, I have begun to reread Philip Yancey’s book, “The Jesus I Never Knew.” In one of the chapters, Yancey explores the temptations of Jesus. He makes the point that Jesus demonstrated unprecedented restraint when He was tempted. Satan offered Jesus a short-cut to His end goal, but Jesus refused. Satan offered Jesus the means to influence the world through miracle, mystery, and authority. Jesus could have had it all, if only He would give in, but he refused.

                One of the things that struck me as I was reflecting upon the temptations is that Jesus showed even greater restraint in allowing Satan to tempt Him at all. Jesus could have easily banished Satan. He could have rebuked him in a way that would have sent Satan running for his life. Instead, Jesus endured the temptations on our behalf.

                Throughout Jesus’ life, He continually refused to give in to the temptation to use miracle, mystery, and authority to accomplish His purpose. He did miracles, but refused to leverage them. He inspired and amazed people, but refused to allow them to make Him their king. He spoke with authority like no one else, yet He did not use his authority to subdue His enemies. Jesus continued to show heroic restraint time and time again. The question then is, why?

                Jesus could have overwhelmed the world with His power and glory. But instead, He chose to love the world in a way that would transform people’s lives. In God’s sovereignty, He created humanity as free moral beings. He gave us the power of choice. In fact, He gave the power of the ultimate choice, to love God or not to love God. God has restrained His power not because He is powerless, but because He had a higher goal in mind. He wanted those created in His image to turn to Him of their own free will. Because the very essence of God is love, He valued the love of those He created above their submission.

                C.S. Lewis and others make the point that love is real and genuine only when it is freely given. Love that is coerced or forced is not love at all. Without the freedom to choose we become simply preprogrammed robots. God created a world filled with creatures that simply obey their basic instincts; in a way, they act as they were programmed to act. But He set one part of His creation apart, He created one being in His own image; humanity. In creating us in His image, He gave to us the freedom to choose our course.

                Many people in Jesus’ day wanted Him to use His power and authority to overthrow Rome and restore the nation of Israel. But Jesus refused. Many today want Jesus to use His power and authority to overthrow evil or whatever they see as evil, but still He refuses. He has chosen to restrain His power in order to win the hearts of people, not just their submission. There is a day coming when everyone will stand in His presence. On that day, every knee will bow and ever tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Some will do that with joy and delight. Many will do it out of fear. But until that day, Jesus restrains His power that whosoever will may come to Him in genuine faith.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)