(From "Power For Today" by: Merlin Neff)
Now God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. - Acts 10:38
If we had no other record of Jesus than the thumbnail sketches of the men and women who walked on the roads and in the streets of the cities of Palestine in His day, they would tell us that His life was one of tremendous power.
"Never man spake like this man," said the officers who refused to lay hands on Jesus. John 7:46. "He is a prophet," said the man who had been born blind, and to whom the Saviour had given sight. John 9:17. "I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world," was the testimony of Martha, the practical-minded homemaker of Bethany. John 11:27. "This man doeth many miracles," admitted the chief priests and Pharisees who hated Jesus. John 11:47. And again the same critical Pharisees said, "Behold, the world is gone after Him." John 12:19. "I find in Him no fault at all," Pilate declared after a private interview with the Christ. John 18:38. "Truly this was the Son of God," exclaimed the calloused Roman centurion who watched the Saviour die. Matthew 27:54.
Here was a life of power and spiritual strength that amazed even the bitterest enemy, the most cynical scoffer. Men and women who loved money, dress, and pleasure, those who are devoted to the lusts of the flesh, were transformed when they met the Man of Galilee. His look of love, His message of forgiveness, His challenge, "go and sin no more," set men's feet on the path to heaven. He is our Hero, our Example!
With such a captain at the helm we need never fear the future. Let us say with Martin Luther: "If I did not see that the Lord kept watch over the ship, I should long since have abandoned the helm. But I see Him! Through the storm, strengthening the tackling, handling the yards, spreading the sails -- aye, more, commanding the very winds! Should I not be a coward if I abandoned my post? Let Him govern, let Him carry us forward, let Him hasten or delay, we will fear nothing!"
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