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So much to learn

Text: John 14:12-30

SO MUCH TO LEARN

Jesus had spoken much. There was so much more to what it meant to have faith in Jesus than the Disciples had realized. There was still much more for the Disciples to learn. However, the Disciples had not fathomed all that they had been taught. Jesus had begun to specially prepare the Disciples for His death, but their hearts were so heavy with sorrow they could not learn much. Graciously, Jesus drew this conversation to a close with these words.

“I will no longer talk much with you.”
John 14:30

He had sown many precious seeds in their hearts and minds. He trusted that the Holy Spirit whom the Father would send in His Name would carry on where He had left off. The topic of His death had been taught. The Disciples may not understand all that they needed to understand, but after His death and resurrection they would comprehend and they would emerge with a stronger faith as well.

AN ALERT CONCERNING THE DEVIL

The topic concerning His death was over, for the moment anyway. Jesus began to talk about other things. One of the things that He wanted His Disciples to note carefully was the fact that the Devil himself would come on the scene. Let us carefully consider what Jesus said.

“… for the ruler of this world is coming,
and he has nothing in Me.”
John 14:30

Jesus expected another series of attacks from the Devil. Satan had come to test Jesus when He was preparing Himself in the wilderness for His public ministry. He had failed to tempt Jesus in the least (Luke 4:1-13). Luke made this note in his Gospel.

“Now when the devil had ended every temptation,
he departed from Him until an opportune time.”
Luke 4:13

The Devil had sent out his horde of demons to attack many, in the days of Jesus. Again and again, they confronted Him, almost defying Him to cast out the demons. The demons lost battle after battle! They had failed to curb the power of Jesus. His authority and power were just too great! They found themselves having to comply with the commands of Jesus!

The Devil had not given up! He attacked the Disciples of Jesus instead. He noted the weaknesses of Judas, and found that he was a willing servant. It was the Devil who instigated Judas to consider betraying Jesus (John 13:2). It was Satan again who entered into the heart of Judas, to galvanise him to do the final dastardly deed of betraying Jesus (John 13:27).

Jesus did not fear Satan in any way. There was nothing to fear as far as He was concerned! He knew what Satan could or could not do. He knew the limitations of the Devil. He knew that he could do nothing against Him outside His Father’s will!

Yes, the Devil had come, but he had nothing in Jesus. There was nothing the Devil could do in the life of Jesus. He couldn’t even get a toehold in His thoughts! He may be feared as the ruler of the world, but he could not influence Jesus one bit! He had certain powers, and thus he may indeed be regarded as the ruler of the world, but that did not impress Jesus at all.

Jesus and the ruler of the world had nothing in common with each other. The Devil may do his worst against Jesus, but he would not prevail!

THE SUFFERING THAT SATAN WOULD CAUSE TO JESUS

As the Jews attacked Jesus, they revealed that they were indeed children of the Devil. Jesus solemnly spoke to the Jews using most direct language when He said,

“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…”
John 8:44

The Jews were plotting His death even as Jesus spoke to His Disciples. His erstwhile Disciple, Judas had already gone to betray Him. It would seem as if the Devil had won this battle.

Jesus told His Disciples that the Devil had not gained the victory! He had nothing in Jesus! He could do nothing in His life! Yes, Jesus would have to endure suffering and finally death. But the Disciples of all people must know the real reason why He was going to allow Himself to be tortured and finally put to death!

“But that the world may know that I love the Father,
and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.
Arise, let us go from here.”
John 14:31

Jesus wanted His Disciples to know and to remember, that when He entered into His sufferings shortly, it was not because the Devil had triumphed over Him. He was accepting the suffering as from His Father’s hand. This was the Divine plan to bring salvation to sinning mankind!

The Disciples must teach the world that the sufferings and the death of Jesus were all in God’s will. How did Jesus regard God’s will? He embraced His will as His commandment. He was going to enter into His sufferings with a heart full of love for His Father! The devil must not be allowed to plant wrong thoughts and ideas into the heads of the Disciples! Filled with love for His Father, Jesus was ready to face His death!