“Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” (Luke 19:47–48, NIV84)
These two verses, once again, show the contrast between the two kingdoms (heaven & this world) and who was actually in control during the last week of Jesus’ life (Holy Week). The clash between the kingdoms is evidenced by the fact that the common people were hanging on Jesus’ every word, while the religious leaders were continuously plotting for a way to kill Him. Here Jesus was preaching a life-giving message and the religious leaders want Him dead. You can sense the force of evil behind those following the kingdom of this world. Jesus said about Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks his native language because he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). And again in John 10:10, “The thief (Satan) comes to kill, steal and destroy…” This week Jesus was doing battle with Satan and his kingdom, and on this day, Jesus exercised His control and continued to take over His temple and proclaim the truth about the kingdom of heaven. And the people hung on every word.
As I write this devotion, I am forced to ask myself, “Am I as aware of the lines that distinguish the two kingdoms as I ought to be? And, do I live in the confidence that the kingdom of this world is not in control, although through the eyes of sight it would appear to be at times. We can only grow to be more certain about these things as we are more and more firmly rooted into God’s Word. Notice the lines of distinction are always around truth and lies. The kingdom of this world will always have lies as a base of thinking. Why? Because Satan is a liar and can do nothing else but attempt to imitate truth. Also, the more we are in God’s Word, the more we will run into event after event where God showed Himself to be in control and worked His will as the result of the event.
May we be confident today that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in control and is working out all things for the good of those who love Him.
Peace!
Pastor Tom
www.firmlyrooted.church