We're going to take a look at the concept of spiritual warfare. The notion of each and every one of us being involved in a life or death struggle is not far-fetched, nor is it imaginary, but rather, it is very real. It is a matter of eternal life or death, and choices must be made, battle lines must be drawn, alliances must be formed, and allegiance must be given. This is a war, a battle for our very souls, and it is being waged on a daily basis, and we have an integral role in the fight. We're going to take a look at the war that is being fought for control of our souls on both sides, and how it is waged on many fronts. We will begin by taking a look at the very origins of the battle, where it all began, in the Garden of Eden. We read of the aftermath of original sin in Genesis 3:14-15, after Adam and Eve are beguiled by the serpent, which is simply a form which Satan had assumed..."And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." We know that the latter part of these verses refers to Jesus, and to the fact that He would be the One who would ultimately defeat Satan, first on the Cross of Calvary, and finally at the Last Day. However, let us pay particular attention to verse 14, and to the fact that Satan is told that "dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life." To what does this refer? What is this "dust" that Satan is condemned to eat? The comparison has been drawn to the snake itself, and to the fact that a snake crawls upon its belly, and consumes dust along with its food.
However, we know that the serpent was just an incarnation of the devil himself, much like a puppet which Satan was controlling. We read in Genesis 2:7, as mankind is created..."And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Further, we read in Psalms 103:13-14..."Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." WE, as mankind, are the dust which Satan consumes, we are like prey and he is the predator. If we live our lives without the Sovereign protection that only the blood of Jesus provides, we are like prey for the taking, as a sheep without a shepherd. Jesus refers to Satan multiple times as "the prince of this world", and he is also called "the prince of the power of the air", and, at one point, Paul even refers to him as "the god of this world" who has "blinded the minds of them which believe not". Just before Peter's denial of Jesus, the Lord gave him an ominous warning in Luke 22:31..."And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." So we see that it is not only nonbelievers who are in danger, but that we as Christians are subject to temptation, as well. Notice, however, that Peter, as a believer, had a distinct advantage over Satan, one which we all possess, once we have given our lives to the Lord. Although Jesus knew that Peter would fall to temptation, and deny Him, Jesus prayed for Peter, that his faith would not fail, and Jesus intercedes on our behalf, as well, when we are in times of trial. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that..."...he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." All of the aforementioned foreboding descriptions of Satan are given in order that we may understand the power and dominion which the devil has on this earth. He is very real, and very powerful, and he has tremendous influence. Furthermore, we are in his territory, we are like children on his playground, and therefore, we must be ever on guard. Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:12..."For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." This is further elaborated in a beautiful and eloquent way by Peter, as we read in 1 Peter 5:8-9..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." Notice here that the devil is compared with a lion, he is akin to an apex predator, one who is constantly on the prowl, looking for prey to devour. However, he cannot simply take whomever he wants. According to our reading, he seeks whom he "may devour". Those who will resist, and stand firm in their faith are in no danger, for the devil cannot touch them. Only those who choose to walk the path alone will become victims of Satan. We are given a precious reassurance in James 4:7..."Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This is much more than a simple word of encouragement, this is a promise of God. All that is required on our part is faith, and a willingness to resist, and God will do the rest. God is telling us, just as He told the children of Israel in 2 Chronicles 20:17..."Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you...". However, we can be sure, that although Satan will flee, he will undoubtedly return in some other form, with some other tactic or enticement, to once again try and lure us away from God. Our battle with the devil is an ongoing war, and victory on one front will only ensure combat on another. This is further explained in James 1:13-15..."Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." This puts the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of each individual, and shows us, as well, that the real frontline of this battle is within our own minds. If we fall to temptation, it is because we were enticed, and we then made the conscious decision to act on the temptation. We cannot say, as some have said, "The devil made me do it!", for this is simply not the case, and we are not afforded the luxury of "passing the buck". Yes, we may be sorely tempted, and mentally ravaged by Satan, but ultimately it is we ourselves who must bear the responsibility for our own actions. So, naturally, the questions then arise...
What can we do about this? What hope do we have in the face of such a powerful and overwhelming enemy?
The good news is, we do have hope. In fact, we have the assurance of victory. Although we may be in the territory of the enemy, we have been given tools to aid us in this fight, namely the full armor of God, and furthermore, we have a Champion who can never be defeated. This is a battle which has already been won. We know that good will ultimately triumph over evil. We, as believers, have been bought with a price, and our salvation has been secured. In the epic battle between good and evil, between the dark and the light, much blood has been shed. However, the only blood that has any bearing is the precious blood of Jesus which He shed on the cross to purchase our salvation. His sacrifice was made once, for all. It was all encompassing, it paid the price in full for the sins of all those who would believe on His name. He bore our iniquities, He tasted of death, He overcame death, hell, and the grave, and He now sits at the right hand of God, claiming us as His own, and making intercession on our behalf. He is our Champion, our Hope, and our Advocate. He is our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Friend. He is our Victory.
We're going to take a look at the account of the death and resurrection of Lazarus in the New Testament, and the lessons which we can learn from it. I think we'll find that we have more in common with Lazarus than we thought. The name "Lazarus" comes from the Greek, and means "God is my help", and we will see that God was indeed of great help to Lazarus, as He is to each of us. We read in John 11:1-44...
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that Lazarus was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe: nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus said unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."
Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, and friend of Jesus, had become sick, and was near death when his sisters sent word to Jesus of his condition. The relationship between Lazarus and Jesus was such that his sisters sent word that "he whom thou lovest is sick." This shows us the great love that Jesus had for Lazarus, as well as for all of us. Many parallels can be drawn in this account between the love that Jesus showed for Lazarus and his sisters and the empathy and compassion which He has for each of us. Upon hearing of the condition of Lazarus, Jesus tells His disciples that "this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." So we see that there was a Higher purpose behind the sufferings of Lazarus, just as there is always a reason behind our hardships. Jesus chooses to delay coming to Lazarus for two more days, because He knows that Lazarus must first die in order for the glorious miracle to occur. This is a beautiful parallel of the way in which we must first die, to ourself and to our desires, before we can be saved by Jesus.
The disciples were concerned, and rightly so, about traveling back into Judaea, because the Jews had sought to stone Jesus on his most recent visit there. However, Jesus takes no thought as to His own safety, and He does not ask His disciples to go anywhere that He is not willing to walk with them. "Let us go...", He tells them. The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God will not protect you.
With verse 11, Jesus informs His disciples of the death of Lazarus, telling them that..."Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep." Though Lazarus had died, he was still considered a friend to Jesus, and his death was referred to as a sleep, because he was soon to be awakened from it. In Mark 5:39, Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead, telling the people that "...the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." For those who are a friend to Jesus, death is naught but sleep, a rest from one's labors, and a mere waiting period until the day of resurrection, after which, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:17..."so shall we ever be with the Lord."
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, He is met by Martha, who tells Him..."Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Such a beautiful statement not only of faith, but of hope, as well, as we can see in the words of Martha a glimmer of the expectation of good. Jesus tells her plainly..."Thy brother shall rise again." Martha responds..."I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." This knowledge alone brings her comfort, and she seems unsure as to whether or not to hope for anything more. Jesus proceeds to expound to Martha the very basis of salvation, to which Martha responds with a stirring confirmation and confession of her faith..."I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."
With this, Martha departs, and goes to bid her sister to come and meet Jesus. Mary rushes to meet with Jesus, so much so that the Jews who comforted her followed, thinking that she was gone to weep at the grave of her brother. She meets Jesus, and, falling down at His feet, exclaims, just as Martha did..."Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." However, Mary's exclamation of grief was much more submissive in nature, heartfelt, and tearfully delivered. Martha, it would seem, was much more guarded in her emotions, and Mary more transparent in her devotion. We are told in verse 2 that it was this Mary who anointed the Lord with oil, and wiped His feet with her hair as found in John 12:3. The difference between Mary and Martha is even more apparent in Luke chapter 10:38-42..."Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Martha was apparently the older sister, she was the owner of the house, and Mary was living with her. It seems as if Martha and Mary were very different in their thinking, and perhaps simply at different places in their lives.
The raw emotion of Mary over the loss of her brother, along with the sadness of the Jews who followed her, had a profound effect on Jesus. He asks them, "Where have ye laid him?", and as they bring Him to the grave, Jesus weeps openly. What a beautiful picture of the empathy and compassion of our Lord, as He weeps alongside the mourners approaching the graveside of His dear friend Lazarus! So touching was the scene, that even the Jews, who just weeks earlier had sought to kill him, spoke of Jesus, "Behold how he loved him!" Our High Priest is indeed touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
As they reach the grave, Jesus commands that the stone be rolled away. Martha, ever the analytical thinker, tells Jesus, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." Jesus reminds her of their earlier conversation as He tells her..."Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
With that, they roll away the stone, and Jesus lifts up His eyes to heaven in prayer..."Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people that stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." Not just family members of Lazarus, but also many members of the Jewish community stood by, and bare witness to the miracle which was about to occur. This was not by accident, as God wanted the news of this miracle to spread, and irrefutable proof of the Sovereign Power of Jesus to be made known among the Jews.
Jesus then cries with a loud voice..."Lazarus, come forth." And Lazarus did come forth, still bound hand and foot in the graveclothes in which he was buried, his face covered with a napkin. Jesus then tells those standing nearby to..."Loose him, and let him go."
We are all a Lazarus in the making. Jesus is calling each of us to die to our own will, to die to our lusts and desires, that He may come and resurrect us. He weeps for us in our lost condition, and groans in His spirit until we surrender our will, and die to sin, that we may be raised with Him. He calls us to "come forth", to be raised to walk in newness of life, to become the new creature which He created us to be. He intercedes on our behalf, fighting the battles which we ourselves are not strong enough to wage, all the while rebuking Satan, and saying, "Loose him, and let him go."
Lazarus had a true friend in Jesus, and so do we. He is our closest ally, the friend that sticks closer than a brother. He will never leave us nor forsake us, He gave His all in order to save us, and He is preparing a home in heaven for us where we will be with Him forever. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Amen.
We're going to take a look at the resurrection of Jesus from a different point of view, from a unique angle. We are all aware of the events which led up to the crucifixion of Jesus, and of His death, burial, and resurrection, but His motivations, His self-restraint and the amazing selflessness with which He conducted Himself, sometimes go unrecognized. The fact that Jesus endured all these things of His own free will is an aspect which we will endeavor to explore. Our main scriptural basis for this study is found in John 10:17-18..."Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
The hardships which Jesus endured during His life here on earth are more than most of us could even imagine. He was born during a time and in a place where it was difficult simply to live day to day, where one's subsistence was hard to come by, and even more difficult to maintain. One aspect of this, however, which often goes unnoticed, is the fact that Jesus chose to be born at that time, and in that place. We need to understand that time is an invention of man, and that God is not bound by its constraints. So, whether Jesus was born over 2000 years ago, or just 50 years ago, would have no bearing on the monumental impact of His sacrifice. The fact is, He chose to be born during a very difficult period in history, and in a relatively desolate environment, under harsh conditions, because it was only through His suffering that our atonement would be purchased. Jesus chose to rise above His surroundings.
At the beginning of His public ministry, immediately following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted directly by Satan.
He endured this trial using the same mindset which we are to use when we are tempted, relying on God's word with a simple "it is written...". However, Jesus allowed this temptation to be leveled against Him, He permitted Satan to tempt Him in the most heinous of ways, in order to give us an example of how the devil is to be defeated. Throughout His ministry, Jesus was ridiculed and persecuted by the Scribes and Pharisees as well as the Romans. Though He had developed quite a large following among the people, the self-righteous Jews and the power hungry Roman Empire were constantly seeking ways in which they could destroy Him. Isaiah foretells of this in chapter 53:3..."He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and aquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." In spite of all this, He knowingly continued spreading the good news to all who would listen, healing their infirmities and easing their minds. Jesus chose to rise above temptation and persecution.
Nearing the end of His ministry here on earth, Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, to pray, as we read in Matthew 26:37-39..."...he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." His sorrow was so intense that Luke tells us in chapter 22:44..."And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Immediately following, Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, arrived with soldiers to betray Jesus to the Romans. We read in Matthew 26:47-50..."And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." Jesus chose to rise above sorrow and betrayal.
At this point, Jesus was given a mock trial, and the Jewish leaders demanded His crucifixion. He was delivered to the Roman soldiers, who mocked Him, spit upon Him, drove a crown of thorns into His brow, and scourged Him, beating Him unmercifully. He was then crucified, with nails driven through His hands and feet, and left to die an agonizing death. One of the factors which often goes unnoticed is the fact that Jesus was in control of all of these things, and had the power to stop it all at any time. He tells Peter in Matthew 26:53-54..."Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" This gives us a bit of an insight into the incredible self-control which Jesus possessed. What phenomenal poise and restraint it must have required to allow your own creation to betray you, to mock you, to execute you! To hold your peace as those whose very lives are held in the palm of your hand beat you, spit upon you, and crucify you! And then, as Jesus hung there, on the cross, He looked down upon the crowd, mocking him, so hungry for His death, and with pity, He prayed for them as He was dying, as we read in Luke 23:34..."...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." Jesus chose to rise above natural human emotion and agonizing physical pain.
Jesus was then buried in a new tomb, His body wrapped in linen. For three days, the disciples were in mourning, not knowing what was next for them. But on the morning of the third day, Jesus arose from the dead, first appearing to Mary, and then to the disciples, and He walked the earth for 40 days until He ascended into heaven. He did not have to rise, it was by his own volition, of His own free will, just as the temptations, the persecutions, the hardships and His crucifixion had all been by His own choice. If Jesus did not have the unfathomable love for mankind which He possesses, He could have chosen not to rise again, and we would then be left to our own destruction, and without hope. He told His disciples..."...I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again..." and He tells us in John 15:13..."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." So we see that it was because of His great love that He was willing to lay down His life, and because of His love that He rose again, securing salvation for all who would believe on Him. Jesus chose to rise from the dead.
Throughout His life and His ministry, through His teachings, and His healing, in spite of temptation and persecution, Jesus chose to rise. As His time drew near, despite His sorrow, the betrayal of Judas, and the torture of the Roman soldiers, Jesus chose to rise. On the cross, through agonizing pain and sadness, He took our sins upon Himself and was forsaken, He died and was buried, and the third day, Jesus chose to rise.
No matter what we may be going through in this life, we can know that we have a Savior who has been through it all, and who loves us unconditionally, in spite of ourselves. When we are tempted, or persecuted, betrayed, or forsaken, we need to lean on the One who truly understands. We must put our faith, and our confidence, in the One who will never leave us or forsake us, and choose, as He did, to rise above our circumstances, always bearing in mind that, through it all, Jesus chose to rise.
We're going to take a look at an event which occurred in the life of Jesus which has significant implications for all of us. Its application, as well as its admonitions, are deep and meaningful, beyond their mere face value. Immediately following His baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. What transpired was both inspiring and significant as it serves to give us not only a look into the mind of Jesus, but also the far-reaching power and influence of the devil. We will be reading from Matthew 4:1-11..."Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him,
It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
We will begin with verse 11, and take each verse, looking in detail at each one in order to draw out hidden truths which might otherwise go unnoticed. So, verse 11 begins..."Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." This event occurred immediately after the baptism of Jesus, and is also recorded in the books of Mark and Luke as well as Matthew. However, in their respective accounts, they both use the word "immediately" to express the fact that is was directly following His baptism. Note that, as long as Jesus lived privately, He was in relative obscurity. However, when He was baptized, and was declared to be the Son of God, His temptation was immediate. Such is the case with us. While we are in the world, living for ourselves, we will not be bothered by Satan, but when we step out for God, and stand up for His cause, we will immediately face temptations. Matthew Henry once said, "The enriched soul must double its guard." It is when one first sets out to do good, to do the will of God, that Satan will do all within his power to derail their progress.
Verse 2 tells us..."And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered." It is implied here that the sensation of hunger was suppressed during the extent of the forty days, just as with Moses in Exodus 34:28..."And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." However, it seems as though the temptation, though not specifically detailed, was constant throughout the forty days, as we read in Luke 4:1-2..."And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered." While we are not told what the temptations entailed during the first phase, we know that they were not successful, or else there would be no need for the second phase of temptation. Whatever these temptations may have been, we know for a certainty that they must have included Satan's attempts to place doubt as to the validity of the Sonship of Jesus as well as his Sovereign Authority, because this is precisely where they pick up when the forty days come to an end.
With verse 3, Satan embarks upon the specific temptations..."And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Continuing in his attempts to cast doubt into the mind of Jesus as to the legitimacy of His being the Son of God, the devil tempts Jesus to exercise His power to ease His own suffering, His hunger. On the surface, this would not seem to be a grievous sin, but to yield to it would be to sin against God, as it would not only signify submission to Satan, but also uncertainty as to the provision of God. Subtle as the enticements of the devil may be, we must be ever vigilant in order to avoid his fiery darts. Another interesting aspect of this particular temptation is the fact that Satan did not tempt Jesus to pray to the Father that the stones be made bread, but rather, to use His own divine power to make it so. It was as if Satan were saying, "After all, the Father has abandoned you, has He not? Else, would you be here, in the wilderness, at the point of starvation? Why not use your power to supply your own needs?" The devil is never stronger than when he convinces us that we have been abandoned by God. However, our Savior could see beyond this ruse, and avoided the temptation, as we read in verse 4...
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Jesus answered the temptation with a scripture which Moses spoke to the children of Israel at the end of their forty years' wanderings in the desert, which we read in Deuteronomy 8:3..."And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." Now, in this, Jesus acknowledges the fact that, if the children of Israel were made to wander for forty years, and never suffered starvation, and God provided all their needs, how much more would He provide for His only begotten Son? As is, at times, man's lot to suffer, He would await Divine supply, knowing that it would arrive in due season.
Verses 5-6 bring Satan's next temptation..."Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Let us take note here of the cunning subtleties of the devil's tactics. Seeing that Jesus relies upon the word of God for His defense, Satan turns the tables, and attempts to use Scripture to tempt Jesus into a display of power. It is as if he were saying, "If you are indeed the Son of God, prove it here, before all of Jerusalem. Leap from the pinnacle of this temple, and let the angels come to your rescue!" However, the wisdom of Jesus sees right through this deceitful provocation, and His amazing humility would never allow for such a blatant misuse of God's protections. An interesting side note here, it is worth noticing that the devil compels Jesus to cast Himself down, he does not make any attempt to cast Jesus down himself, as he does not have physical power over our own will. We read in James 1:14..."...every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Satan can only persuade, he cannot dictate. He can entice, but he cannot override our will. Again, in this instance, Jesus rebukes the devil with God's word once more, in verse 7...
"Jesus said unto him, It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Jesus acknowledges the devil's use of Scripture, misquoted as it was, and further uses the word to nullify Satan's argument. Notice that Jesus is not telling Satan here, "Therefore you shall not tempt me"; but rather, "I must not tempt my Father." For Jesus to cast Himself down from the temple would be to purposely create a situation which would require further proof from the Father as to His provision and protection, thereby tempting God.
With verses 8-9, Satan unleashes his final temptation..."Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." The devil abandons his feeble attempts to quote Scripture, as Jesus sees beyond his flawed logic. Of course, there would be no Scripture for Satan to quote which would back up this blasphemous deception. This is a blatant attempt to coerce the human side of Jesus to lust for power. Luke 4:5-7 explains it in a little greater detail..."And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." Here, the devil throws off all pretention and shows his true colors. This is interesting, as it shows us that Satan used some type of supernatural power to display before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, in the present as well as the future, along with all of their glory, in a moment of time. Further, it shows us that the glory and power of this world have been delivered to Satan, and that he has the capability to use it in any way that he chooses. He has the means to provide wealth and power to anyone who is willing to trade their soul for it. Jesus referred to Satan multiple times as "the prince of this world", because He fully understands not only our frailties, but also the power and influence which the devil has over mankind.
In verses 10-11, as Jesus answers Satan's final enticement, He provides us with a stirring example of boldness in the face of temptation..."Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." The devil's final temptation is met with righteous indignation, as the very thought of giving Satan the worship that is due only to God was an abomination to Jesus. Likewise, we must be bold in our defiance to the seductions of the devil; and we know that, since Satan cannot control us physically, our resistance is all that is required, and God will take care of the rest. We read in James 4:7-8..."Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." When we submit ourselves, our will, and our desires, to God, we draw nigh to Him. He will, in turn, draw nigh to us, and purify and cleanse us. The devil does not want to fight us, for he knows that he cannot defeat an unwavering and steadfast Christian. He will tempt us, but when we boldly resist, he will flee. He has plenty of other easy targets to prey upon; he does not want to waste his time on a resolved and single-minded follower of Jesus; and when we resist, he will leave us, and our strength and resolve will be renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus faced these temptations, and undoubtedly many more that are not revealed to us. He defeated Satan face to face during His life on earth, and He will defeat Him once and for all at the end of time. Jesus is our Victory, He is our Intercessor, and our ever present help in time of trouble. Finally, Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us..."Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
We're going to take a look at the concept of the "Armor of God", how it is to be implemented, and what benefits we obtain from it; in short, how does it apply to us today? We'll begin by reading Ephesians 6:10-17, as Paul closes out his letter to the church at Ephesus with a stirring call to action..."Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Beginning with verse 10, Paul urges the Ephesians, as well as all of us, to..."be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." First of all, we must understand that we are in a battle, a life or death struggle. We are truly at war, and our minds are the battlefield. The devil is constantly scheming to entrap us, to tear down our defenses. His only goal is to ensnare us, and to drag our souls down to hell with him. The Lord is our first, and only, line of defense. Without Him, we are without hope, and have no means of fortification, or tools with which to ward off the attacks of the devil. We are simply not equipped to defend ourselves against such an enemy unaided.
With verse 11, Paul explains what must be done in order to protect oneself from Satan..."Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We must make use of all of the proper defenses and weapons provided by God if we are to repel the offensive of Satan, or, as Paul calls it here, the "wiles of the devil." This is an interesting choice of words, as the word "wile" is defined as "deceitfully cunning" or, "a trick meant to trap or entice". We've all heard the phrase "wile away the time", and this is defined as "to spend time in a leisurely or pleasurable fashion." Satan wants nothing more than to deceive us into wasting our time on our own pleasure, rather than devoting ourselves, and our time, to God. After all, this is all he really has to do in order to gain control over our souls. He does not have to persuade us to worship him, as he tried to convince Jesus in Matthew 4:8-10..."...the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." This example is very telling, as it serves to show us that the devil is very powerful indeed, and he has the capability of bestowing great wealth and power upon those who are willing to sacrifice their souls for it.
In verse 12, Paul explains further what exactly the "wiles of the devil" consist of..."For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
This tells us that our battle is not with mankind, but rather with very powerful enemies of great dominion and influence in this world, which are controlled by Satan. These consist of not only dark forces under the direct influence of the devil; they also consist of seemingly religious organizations whose underlying goal it is to lead the people of God astray.
Verse 13 lays out our responsibilities as Christian people in a dark world..."Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." It is our duty to cover ourselves in this armor, to encase ourselves within it, in order to stand against these wicked influences. We are to arm ourselves against these attacks, and strengthen our resolve to withstand evil, as we read in James 4:7..."Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
We come now to verse 14, as Paul begins to lay out in detail what each piece of the armor of God is..."Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness." Of course, we all understand that Paul is not speaking of a physical suit of armor. He is using the analogy of armor in order to convey the protection which God provides us, and the ways in which it is manifested. With this in mind, we will take a look at each piece of "armor". The loins of a person are the abdomen, or the core, and this is where all of our strength flows from. Any physical activity which we undertake originates from our "core". If truth is at our "core", then all else will fall into place. If anything other than truth is at our core, we cannot be successful. It is as simple as that. The breastplate of a suit of armor covers all of the vital organs, and guards the heart, and therefore is extremely important in warfare. Our "breastplate" is the righteousness of Jesus, which is imputed to us, transferred by faith to believers through the sacrifice which Jesus made on our behalf. Without it, we would be totally vulnerable, and have no hope of success on the battlefield.
Paul continues in verse 15..."And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" In ancient times, soldiers wore brass coverings for their feet because one of the tactics employed against an approaching army was to place sharp sticks buried in shallow holes, called gall traps, which would pierce the foot, thereby incapacitating the soldiers. Because of this, the soldiers had to be prepared for such a threat. Likewise, we must be prepared for the hidden attacks of the devil. We must have our hearts in a prepared state, that is, resolved to follow Jesus. This will bring us peace on the inside, despite the raging war going on around us, as we read in Philippians 4:7..."...the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
With verse 16, Paul reveals our main fortification..."Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Faith is our principal line of defense. It is the shield which will thwart the attacks of the enemy. We read in 1 John 5:4..."For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." A strong foundation of faith is a buffer which the weapons of the enemy cannot penetrate. Paul uses the analogy of "fiery darts", which, in ancient times, were actual weapons employed in warfare. These would be arrows, made of cane, with combustible materials wrapped around the tip. They would be lit on fire and then shot at the intended target, and would be capable of penetrating tents, or wood, setting them on fire, thereby causing great damage. The temptations which Satan attempts to entice us with are very similar. When the devil bombards us, we must use our faith to ward off the onslaught. Otherwise, his assault will be much like a fiery dart, penetrating into our minds, and, as we read in James 3:6, setting them "on fire of hell". We must understand that Satan is called the prince of this world for a reason. He is very powerful, and if given the opportunity, he will take total control of our minds, our will, and ultimately, our very soul. He knows exactly what areas we are weakest in, what tempts us most, and how and when to use these temptations to lure us away from God.
Finally, in verse 17, our greatest defensive and offensive weapons are revealed..."And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." An interesting side note here is that, when we are told in this verse to "take the helmet", and the sword, this is a different Greek word from those used in earlier verses. Previously, in verses 13 and 16, we were told to "take the whole armour" and to "take the shield of faith", which are decided actions on our part. Here, however, in the original Greek, the word for "take" is "dexasthe", which is literally translated as "receive." So, we are to receive salvation, and let it cover us like a helmet, as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10..."But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." Likewise, we are to receive the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. James 1:21 tells us..."Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." The word of God is our weapon against the wiles of the devil. Apart from it, we have no answer to the temptations hurled at us. Satan tells us, "you know that you want to do this, you know that it will make you feel good, you know that you are powerless to resist...", and the word of God is the weapon which we are to use to ward off these attacks. No greater example of this is to be found than that of Jesus battling Satan in the wilderness, as we read in Matthew chapter 4, as Jesus time and again wields the word with authority against the temptations of the devil, saying, ..."It is written." Furthermore, we read in Hebrews 4:12..."For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." So we see that the word of God is our sword, the means by which we overcome the barrage of Satan.
Let us have no misconceptions. The devil is a liar, a thief, and a murderer. He wants nothing more than to destroy God's people. Jesus tells us in John 8:44..."...He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.", as well as in John 10:10..."The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." However, we must remember that we are not alone in this fight, and we have not been left defenseless. When we have truth as our core, and the righteousness of Jesus covering us, we are at peace with ourselves as well as the world around us; our faith is strengthened, as we receive salvation and meditate on His word. This is the way in which we defend ourselves against the wiles of the devil, and wield the full power of the whole armor of God, that we "may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
We're going to take a look at the 8th chapter of the book of Proverbs, which was written by Solomon. Although he was not considered to be one of the major prophets, many of his Proverbs, the 8th in particular, are very prophetic. Following the death of his father, King David, Solomon became king at a very young age, and he prayed to God for wisdom. God was pleased with Solomon because he had not asked for wealth or longevity, but rather for wisdom in leadership, and because of this, Solomon was granted riches and honor in addition to wisdom. God granted Solomon's request for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:12..."Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." This tells us that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and as such, God chose to use Solomon's wisdom to reveal his redemptive plan to mankind. The 8th chapter of Proverbs is a glimpse of Jesus unlike any other. It is almost as if it were Jesus Himself speaking through Solomon. Jesus is wisdom, and so, as we read these verses, keep this in mind, and then we'll take a look at a few of the key verses in the chapter and how they reveal Jesus to us.
"Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then was I by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."
Although the entire chapter is very evocative of Jesus, there are certain phrases, and verses, which solidify this. We begin with verse 17..."I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Those who seek for Jesus and love Him sincerely are beloved by Him. He tells us in John 15:9-12..."As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
Furthermore, we read in verse 20-21..."I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures." The substance referred to here is not worldly wealth, but rather wisdom. Jesus is wisdom incarnate, for He is the Source of all wisdom, and to have the knowledge of Him is riches and treasure to the soul. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:2-3..."That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Verse 22 reads..."The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old." Here, the entire tone of the chapter changes, as we begin to see concrete affirmation that these are indeed the words of Jesus, perhaps simply recorded by Solomon, who was deemed worthy by virtue of the wisdom which God had endowed him with. Jesus is the eternal Word, as we read in John 1:1-2..."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." So, we can see that Jesus, being the wisdom of God, was with God from the beginning.
We read in verse 23..."I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." The phrase here "I was set up from everlasting" is, in the Hebrew, "nissakti meowlam", literally translated as "anointed from eternity", or set apart in the purpose of God from the beginning. Interestingly, this Hebrew verb "nissakti" also appears in Psalms 2:6-7, part of David's prophecy concerning Jesus..."Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." This tells us that God, from all eternity, anointed the Word, His Wisdom, Jesus, to be Lord and King over all of creation. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:7-8..."...we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Jesus reveals to us in Revelation 22:13..."I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
Further, in verse 30-31 we read..."Then was I by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men." Jesus, being the Second Person of the Trinity, has coexisted with the Father and the Spirit for all of eternity, from before creation began; and He has an intimate connection with each of us personally, because it was by His own selfless sacrifice that salvation was made possible for us. His love for us is unfathomable; it transcends any love which we could ever know, or hope to imagine. We are His delight, as we read in 1 John 3:16..."Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down his life for us..." as well as in John 13:1..."...when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Furthermore, we read in Hebrews 2:14..."Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Jesus tells us in John 15:13..."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Finally, verses 32-36 are a summation of not only the chapter, but of the entire plan of salvation. We'll read these verses, one at a time, and then following each verse, we'll read words spoken directly by Jesus which parallel and correspond with each verse..."Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways." "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.""Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.""He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." "Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.""Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls.""But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.""For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
When we seek for Jesus, He can be found throughout the Old Testament, in the creation, in the words of the prophets, and in the miracles of God. It has been said that Jesus was "concealed" in the Old Testament, and "revealed" in the New Testament. As we continue to seek for Him, His love is manifested to us in new and different ways. May our love for Him grow deeper as we search Him out in the Scriptures, and develop a stronger relationship with Jesus, the embodiment of the Wisdom of God.
We've all heard the phrase "What's in a name?" before. It refers to the fact that most names carry very little significance or meaning. The actions of an individual are what reputation is built upon, and so a person's name becomes synonymous with the deeds that they have performed, and the substance of their character. Many powerful people in our society owe their wealth and privilege to their families, as their riches and influence are due to the name of their father, or grandfather. However, the names of even the most powerful, wealthy, and influential people in the world actually hold no real value at all. We are given many examples throughout the bible which show us that God does not value one person over another. Peter tells us as much in Acts 10:34..."...Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." God loves us all equally, regardless of whether we are rich or poor, male or female, Jew or Gentile. So, we see that our names hold no value, and in the larger scope of things, even those whose names command authority find that their influence and wealth is for naught. There is only one name which holds real influence,
true power, and commands genuine authority. It is the name of Jesus. We're going to take a look at the name of Jesus, and its significance, as well as its power and influence.
First of all, let us understand the fact that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, and that He was loved by the Father. Therefore, the name of Jesus holds special significance to God. Glory and honor have been bestowed upon Jesus because of His tremendous sacrifice on our behalf. We read in Phillippians 2:9-11..."Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." We must take this knowledge to its logical conclusion. If the name of Jesus is above every name, and all things must bow to it, then this tells us that any affliction which we face must come under subjection to the name of Jesus. Therefore, the name of Jesus is above sickness and disease. It is above depression. It is above addiction, and loneliness, and bitterness. When we cry out to Jesus, and claim our victory in His name, we find that He is the cure for any infirmity which we will ever face in our lifetime. Jesus is indeed the Great Physician.
We know also that the selfless sacrifice of Jesus continues on, as He is now our advocate, our mediator, our intercessor. John tells us in 1 John 2:1-2..."...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Timothy reveals to us in 1 Timothy 2:5-6..."For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." Furthermore, Paul tells us in Hebrews 7:25-27..."Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
The intercessory work of Jesus is the reason why we close our prayers "in Jesus' name." It is only through Jesus that we can reach the Father, as He tells us in John 14:6..."...I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and this is the reason why we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Hope. He is our mediator, our advocate, and our friend. We have been bought with a tremendous price, His precious blood, and therefore we belong to Him.
Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, laid out the truth of the gospel in a most eloquent and stirring way in Acts 4:10-12..."Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." What does this tell us? Simply put, there is no other way to get to heaven, except by Jesus Christ. We must be bold in our faith, and steadfast in our assertion that He is the way, the only way, to be saved. This tells us in no uncertain terms that Allah, or Mohammed, or the Pope, or Joseph Smith, or Confucius, or Buddha, or any other name will not bring us salvation. We must be washed in the blood of Jesus. It is only our faith in the precious blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ which will result in our forgiveness, our justification, our redemption, and our salvation.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of Jesus, and gave Him many names, all of which are beautiful in their own way. We read in Isaiah 9:6..."For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Let's take a brief look at each of the names which Isaiah assigns to Jesus. First of all, He is called "Wonderful". Jesus certainly is wonderful, as he is the greatest gift ever given to mankind. He is also wonderful because He is full of wonders. It is by His Hand that the universe was created, as we read in John 1:3..."All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Secondly, Isaiah calls Jesus "Counsellor". This is certainly a fitting description, as Jesus is the greatest therapist who has ever lived. He truly listens and understands our problems, and is the only One qualified to change things for us in a real and lasting way. Paul explains this in Hebrews 4:14-16..."Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Isaiah goes on to call Jesus "The mighty God, The everlasting Father". This is appropriate because Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and He tells us Himself in John 14:7..."If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.", and again in John 10:30..."I and my Father are one." Finally, Isaiah assigns a beautiful distinction to Jesus as he designates Him "The Prince of Peace". Such an endearing and prophetic term, as God reveals through Isaiah the birth of the Prince of Glory, and the Peace which He will bring to His people. The peace which Isaiah speaks of, and which Jesus gives, is not necessarily the peace which we would normally think of. This is why so many people question the existence of God in our society today. They can't understand how a God of Peace would allow such turmoil and chaos. However, they fail to realize that the peace which Jesus brings goes much deeper. It is a peace independent of one's surroundings, a calm in the midst of the storm, and this is a peace which the world cannot grasp, because it comes from within when one is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the "inner peace" which so many have sought for, and yet never attained, because it is not found through earthly influences. It is only through meditating on God's word that we can receive the peace which Jesus bestows, which Paul speaks of in Phillipians 4:6-7..."Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
So, we see that Jesus is given many names. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Great Physician. He is our Advocate, our Mediator, and our Intercessor. He is Wonderful, He is the Counsellor, He is The mighty God, the everlasting Father, and He is the Prince of Peace. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend. May we always be a people who call on, and trust in, Jesus, the name which is above all names.
