Jesus the rebel #3

February 10, 2022 (Thursday)

 

Jesus a “rebel?” Say it ain’t so! It’s a matter of perspective. Jesus is unquestionably the King of Kings, yet His mission on earth included the subversion of our sin culture and those who use it to their own benefit. Jesus did this in what He said, did, intended, and accomplished.

 

Let’s dive into what Jesus intended. Jesus made it clear, His intention was to rob the “strong man.” Mark 3:27 details this image, “But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.” [ESV] The strong man, in this image is the Devil. Remember Jesus appearance on earth was an act of war. We read that one of His intentions was to destroy the works of the Devil, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” [1 John 3:8b ESV]

 

On the flip side of destruction is the positive achievement of giving life. John 10:10 informs us that this includes a quality of life, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” [ESV] Not only are we talking about eternal life, but we are addressing satisfying and full life now. One of my pet peeves is the theological notion that walking with Jesus only has benefits in eternity. Balance this with another pet peeve that God will make every follower of Jesus wealthy, in the monetary sense. Satisfaction does not come from a bank account. Satisfaction, abundant life, comes only from Jesus.

 

The enemy of our soul (Satan) is out to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus is out to give abundant life. It then tracks that those who are accepting of that life are rescued from the dominion of darkness. Colossians 1:13 reads, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” [NIV] What Jesus intended was to run a Special Forces operation to rescue us from behind enemy lines. We are rescued from the control of darkness (evil) and brought into the kingdom of the “light of the world” (see John 8:12).

 

Charles Wesley wrote a powerful description of this in the hymn “And Can It Be?” In what is commonly verse four, we sing, “Long my imprisoned spirit lay. Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.”

 

Jesus intention was to rob the prison of sin and darkness by destroying the works of the Devil. This effectively rescued us from behind the enemy lines of darkness, evil, and ignorance and transferred us into the light.

 

Here is the practical application of this truth; “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” [Ephesians 5:8 – 9 NLT] If we live in the abundant life and light given to us by Jesus, it can only produce good things.