“Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.” Luke 22.1-6
This was the beginning of the end of Jesus’ time on earth. Which is okay, because we know the end of the story! But we know Jesus had to die and be raised to life for us to be saved. He is beginning the end of His earthly journey. Every good thing has to come to an end!
Now, the text tells us that Satan entered Judas. This sounds very scary to some, and it should be. Imagine Satan entering a human being! Terrible things happen. But Satan only has the power that we give him. Without our will or intent to do evil, Satan is a weak, fallen angel, despised by God and a shame to the world. But he was able to enter Judas because Judas gave him the power to do so.
The opportunity was ripe for evil. The Jewish religious leaders were “afraid” (Satan loves fear), and Judas was greedy (he loves sin and money). And the very next move Judas makes is to scheme about a way to turn Jesus over (Satan loves scheming!). He loves nothing more than a devious plan, hidden in the dark, kept secret for the destruction of other people and/or God Himself. And the Jewish leaders, who I imagine were also acting in evil, “were delighted and agreed to give Judas money.” Judas consents and waits for an opportunity to turn Jesus over—talk about an evil scheme!
But God is not afraid of the devil or of human plans to dethrone Him. Jesus, who knew the thoughts of people—we read many examples of this throughout His ministry—knew Judas’ thoughts. He could have reversed it, run away, or defeated those opposing Him with a mere word or thought. But Jesus chose to die. He chose to surrender His life, to lay it down on His own accord so that He might take it up again in eternity. Jesus paid the ultimate price of love—something the devil could never comprehend.
I’m in Zimbabwe with old friends in a familiar place, doing the work of the Lord. I am torn because I miss my wife, my family, my kids, and my comforts. I miss what is familiar, and it would be so easy to skip trips like this so I could be comfortable and careful. But God does not work among the comfortable; He works among the courageous. He does not work among those who scheme in secret, but among those who celebrate in the light of day.
Today, our day in Zim will be one of promoting Jesus, the risen Lord—the One who endured schemes and sin to rise again so that all might have life. Does the devil hate it and hate us? Of course! Does he want to discourage and distract us? Absolutely! But we are not to live in fear; we are to walk in the light of the Lord.
Let’s walk in His light, in the open, and proclaim the Lord’s favor. Let us proclaim that today Christ has complete victory. Let us go out with a caravan of angels of the Most High God to light the way for others to find salvation in Jesus’ name. Without fear, without hesitation, and full of courage and faith.
“O Lord God, You are good and faithful to me. When I doubt, You encourage my soul. When I fear, You give me strength. When I struggle, You lift me up. Come now, Holy Spirit, call me back to communion. Resurrect my life so I might be strong and mighty in the battle for the souls of men and women. I love You, Lord, and trust You. Come fill me with Your love. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen