Angelic Conflict part 307: Darkness reigns for a short time – Luk 13:31-32; 1Co 2:6-8; 1:16-20; Joh 9:1-5; Col 2:13-15.Title: Angelic Conflict part 307: Darkness reigns for a short time – Luk 13:31-32; 1Co 2:6-8; 1:16-20; Joh 9:1-5; Col 2:13-15.
It is by abolishing death that Christ atones for the captives and sets them free from the strong man and into grace and life in Him. His resurrection being the proof of its success on the cross.
His exorcism and healing ministry finds its climax in the cross where He abolished death, atoned for all mankind, and shared the plunder by giving the kingdom of God to mankind.
Hence when Jesus was told that Herod was trying to kill him, he responded:
Luk 13:31 Just at that time some Pharisees came up, saying to Him, "Go away and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."
Luk 13:32 And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox [cunning, stealthy work, Christ was of the day, open, bold], 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.
The Lord refers to His ministry in Perea that would soon be completed. Herod Antipas couldn't touch Him for He must die in Jerusalem, vs. 33. Therefore He openly casts out demons and heals the sick and lame in order to reveal His power over deformity and death while His coming death and resurrection would be the consummation of His victory.
satan and his legions would rise up against Him in Jerusalem, using both Jews and Gentiles as their pawns.
1Co 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1Co 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
1Co 2:8 the wisdom which none of the rulers [archon = used for satan and also for human rulers] of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
The context of the passage would point to the "rulers" as human rulers, yet it is interesting that the word is also used of satan who we know had greatly influenced the rulers of the Sanhedrin, Joh 8:44. Certainly, if they had been believers they would not have crucified Christ. But could also the meaning here be that if the unbeliever knew, and by extension, satan and the KOD knew that the cross would be their ultimate demise, would they have crucified Him?
Not understanding the significance of the cross as the victory of the Messiah over them, over sin, and over death? If they had understood it, they would not have crucified Him.
The gospels indicate that the demons were not completely sure why Christ was here and therefore they did not understand the interpretation of prophecy.
Mar 1:23-24 And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!"
The disciples didn't understand the significance of the cross or the resurrection either. They were blinded to it and completely unprepared for it.
If the human rulers had understood the prophecy of the OT and understood the significance of the cross would they, under the strict influence of satan, delivered Him up to the Romans? Would the crowd at the Praetorium screamed, "Crucify Him, crucify Him?"
If satan and the KOD had an understanding of the significance of the cross, would they have influenced these human pawns to pass the sentence of crucifixion?
1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The foolishness of the cross made fools of God's opponents and demonstrated God's wisdom. God actually outsmarted satan and his legions with the result that they ultimately brought about their own demise. Satan is not only judged by God but his own evil has brought about his own demise.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside."
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Certainly the context is mankind and the world system, but who is the ruler of that system and therefore great influencer of men engrossed in that system?
Eph 2:1-2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.
The more I look at this angle or interpretation, the more I tend to agree with it. If true, then satan wanted Christ to suffer the most intense and excruciating death, which at the time was a Roman cross. This would also mean that satan thought that he had defeated Christ to some extent, or fully, for the three days before the resurrection, but after the resurrection he could only say in great anxiety, "I wish I knew then what I know now."
Demonic darkness would in fact momentarily reign.
Luk 22:52-53 And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? "While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours."
This would clarify what the Lord said as He was about to heal the man born blind.
Joh 9:1 And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.
Joh 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Joh 9:4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.
Joh 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
"displayed" and "light" is the work of Christ leading up to the cross. "this hour and the power of darkness" is the seeming defeat. Resurrection = victory and eternal light.
Indeed, as Jesus expresses it here, His preliminary victories over the evil one in His ministry all lead up to and find their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in this one event.
But through the very fact of being crucified by the hostile powers, Jesus Christ would ultimately overthrow them.
For through His death and resurrection:
Joh 12:31 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.
Joh 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."
What is more, Christ robbed satan of his chief weapon of condemnation and his chief scourge of death. They were publically displayed as defeated.
Col 2:13 And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
Col 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Col 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Heb 2:14-15 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
And while satan and the KOD are completely defeated and sin and death are as well, Christ Himself is exalted and enthroned at the right hand of God.
Faith in the reality of this changed a scared Peter into an emboldened Peter.
Act 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
Act 2:33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Act 2:34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet. "'
Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified."
The reality of Christ's victory and the way in which He accomplished it gives the believer life and peace which is enhanced by a confidence in God and courage in life.
Phi 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Phi 2:9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
Phi 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,
Phi 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
When death itself is conquered for all believers at the end of history, the one who is a murderer from the beginning and who holds the power of death will be utterly defeated, subjected, humiliated, and eternally condemned.
Viewed in this light, the various accounts of the Lord's raising people from the dead come to mean a lot more than simply nice miracles that Jesus did for people. Like His exorcisms, healings and other miracles over nature, they reveal yet another dimension of His war on satan. As when He saw the sick and hungry, Jesus was moved by compassion toward those who had died and those who mourned, for He knew that these things were never intended to be part of God's creation. |