Daily Devotions
John
The deadly work of the devil
Text: John 13 : 1 - 20
THE DEADLY WORK OF THE DEVIL
John recalled and recorded an occasion when Jesus responded to the hard-hearted Jews who were bent on finding fault with Him. Jesus knew why His opponents showed such deep-seated hostility.
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires
of your father you want to do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own
resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
John 8:44
Satan the Devil, had been attacking Jesus through the Jews all this while! Jesus recognized that reality! The unbelieving Jews were of their father the devil! Their desire to kill Jesus was nothing more than a reflection of the devil’s desire to destroy the Messiah! He was a murderer and a liar to boot! That the Jews showed similar characteristics did not surprise Jesus at all!
Where attacks from the outside failed, Satan attacked from within the ranks of the Disciples! What better way to attack Jesus than through one of His Disciples? Jesus of course knew all these things, right from the beginning (John 6:71).
UNPERTURBED BY THE WILES OF THE DEVIL!
There are many who fear the wiles of the Devil. Jesus was not in the least perturbed by the activities of Satan. Thus John recorded the fact that Jesus could have supper with His Disciples even though Satan was working actively in the heart of Judas Iscariot!
“And supper being ended, the devil having
already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son, to betray Him.”
John 13:2
Did Jesus know that Satan was working in the heart of Judas there and then? Yes, of course, He did! Nevertheless, He remained cool and calm amidst this assault of the Devil in the ranks of the Disciples! We are reminded of what John wrote earlier concerning His knowledge of who would betray Him.
“But there are some of you who do not believe.
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were
who did not believe, and who would betray Him.”John 6:64
Jesus never lost His focus on what His Father had promised! His consciousness of His Father’s Presence and Power was truly remarkable! That awareness stemmed from His sustained close relationship with His Father!
Even as Jesus drew nearer to the hour of His death, He was unafraid! How did He see the Devil as he worked in the heart of Judas? John noted this illuminating text.
“Now is the judgment of this world;
now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”John 12:31
Jesus already knew the outcome of this spiritual battle! He will emerge victorious! He will ultimately cast out the ruler of this world! With this deep understanding He was not perturbed by any attack of the Devil against Him.
KNOWLEDGE AND A DEEP SENSE OF TRUST
With knowledge should come a deep sense of trust in the Lord! This is not always the case with us, for all too often knowledge and trust appear to be two separate issues! Jesus demonstrated for us the wonderful relationship between knowledge and trust!
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things
into His hands, and that He had come from God
and was going to God…”John 13:3
Jesus had always demonstrated the power that came with knowledge! In this text, John reiterated the unique relationship that God had with His Son. He had given ALL THINGS into His hands! Did that include this situation where Satan attacked Judas? Yes, it did! Jesus had absolute confidence in what God had promised, and in what God had done when He sent Him into the world to redeem it!
What had the Father given to His Son? Let us take time to recall what John had written in earlier chapters. Let us look at just two things God gave to Jesus!
1. The Power and Authority to Judge
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed
all judgment to the Son.”John 5:22
Jesus had been given special authority and power! The Old Testament speaks of God as the Righteous Judge! We now read of that power being given to Jesus!
2. The Power of Life
Here is another text that helps us understand what it means to see Jesus being given “all things”.
“For as the Father has life in Himself,
so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also,
because He is the Son of Man.”John 5:26-27
Let us seek to deepen our knowledge and our trust in the Lord Jesus, our Saviour! Let us seek to be freed from fear of the wiles of the devil!