Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 22 : 47-54 "BUT THIS IS YOUR HOUR, AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS" Luke 22:53"
Day 298 – Luke 22
Text: Luke 22 : 47-54
“BUT THIS IS YOUR HOUR, AND THE POWER OF DARKNESS” Luke 22:53
What was Jesus battling with? We ask this question one more time? Each time we ask this question, we discover deeper things. Let’s list some of the things that we have learned thus far:-
1. Jesus was preparing Himself in every possible way to bear the suffering that lay ahead of Him. It was an intense struggle, for He was after all fully human too.
2. Jesus was praying as our Great High Priest, interceding on our behalf.
3. Jesus was grappling with special reference to the will of God.
4. In this statement, we must realize that Jesus had been engaged in a spiritual battle. He had to battle against the power of darkness too. This should not surprise us. The evil one had come to Him when He entered into the wilderness, soon after John baptized him. The devil has sought to attack Him again and again. There were times when there had been potential danger. The demon-possessed were unpredictable. They could attack anyone in sight, but they had failed, for the authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ had overcome them all!
We will never fully know just what transpired. We can only humbly acknowledge that Jesus had entered into a spiritual battle with the Devil. Powerful spiritual forces were at work at all times, although they may not be mentioned clearly. Jesus’ mention of “the power of darkness” should not catch us by surprise. Satan was already deeply involved against Jesus when he personally entered into Judas and controlled him, egging him on to betray his Master.
Let us consider an interesting portion of Scripture found in 1 Corinthians. Paul made a cryptic remark about “the rulers of this age.”
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature,
yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age,
who are coming to nothing,
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
The hidden wisdom which God ordained
Before the ages for our glory,
Which none of the rulers of this age knew;
For had they known, they would not have crucified
The Lord of glory”
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
At first reading, the natural reference would appear to be the Scribes, the Pharisees, and all the others who made up the religious leadership of Israel. However, the construction of the sentence is too similar to that found in Ephesians to be limited to just the religious leaders of Israel.
Let us consider what Paul wrote about how spiritual powers were involved in the seemingly normal affairs of men.
“In which you once walked according to the course
of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”
Ephesians 2:2
Two points of correspondence must be noted.
1. Both made reference to “this age”
2. Both made reference to “rulers” (In Eph. 2:2 the world ruler is translated “prince”)
A well-armed contingent had come out to arrest Jesus. John scribed this contingent.
“Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops,
and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
came there with lanterns, torches and weapons”
John 18:3
Jesus said to them,
“This is your hour, and the power of darkness”
Luke 22:53
When Jesus taught His Disciples how to pray, He said, “Deliver us from evil” (KJV). This was later corrected to read, “Deliver us from the evil one” (NKJV). The reason why there was this correction in translation was because of the presence of what we call in English grammar, the definite article. Thus Jesus wasn’t talking about “evil” in the general and abstract idea. He was referring to the evil one.
When Jesus spoke of “darkness” in this text, the definite article was also attached to the word “darkness.” Thus the text could be translated,
“This is your hour, and the power of the darkness”
Luke 22:53
If we therefore translate the text literally, and we amass the other texts where evil powers are ranged in battle against Jesus and men, then we will find that the presence of the devil cannot be denied.
ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL BATTLE ON OUR BEHALF
We must look at another passage, this time from the Epistle to the Hebrews, that would bring great cheer to our heart. There may have been a great show of power on the part of the enemies of Jesus. But they were doomed to be defeated.
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death
He might destroy him who had the power of death,
That is, the devil”
Hebrews. 2:14
Did Satan try and terrify Jesus with thoughts of the fear of suffering and death? He may well have tried, but he failed. Jesus defeated him and broke his power!