We admitted we were powerless. Powerless over alcohol specifically and addiction generally. We took the first step. We admitted. We were powerless.
Jesus took the first step. Thursday and Friday of his last week, Jesus took the first step.
Jesus admitted he was powerless over Judas. Powerless over betrayal. Powerless over the kiss. Powerless over friends who might become enemies. Jesus took the first step.
Jesus admitted he was powerless over Peter. Powerless over denial. Powerless over best friends who might one day abandon, one day cut and run, one day stand silent in your defense when you needed them most. Jesus took the first step.
Jesus admitted he was powerless over Pilate, powerless over Herod, powerless over the people and their priests, powerless over leaders. Powerless over the power of this world. Powerless over police,
courts, laws, judges, tribunals, trials, judgment, punishment, states, armies, executions. Powerless over power itself. Jesus took the first step.
Jesus admitted he was powerless over the cross. Powerless over death by imperial torture. Powerless over blood. Powerless over hatred and humiliation. Powerless over exhaustion, suffocation, asphyxiation. Jesus took the first step.
The first step provides the first words of the twelve steps. But not the last word. Jesus powerless on the cross on Good Friday is not the end. Us powerless over alcohol, drugs, food, sex, work—this is
not the end.
The powerlessness of Jesus is the power of God’s will. The powerless passion of the cross precedes the power of the empty tomb. Jesus hit rock bottom in the garden and bore our powerlessness for us on the cross.
But the power of powerlessness proves positively profound for the folks who might follow. We were powerless over our addictions but in God the power comes back.
Morning follows night. Sunday follows Friday. Our recovery, rebirth, & redemption follow His resurrection. Jesus took the first step, so we all might get free.
