The Devil and the Cross (Luke 22)
This year, the focus of my morning devotional readings have been on diving through the Gospels. After my previous year of focusing on the Torah/Pentateuch (Genesis - Deuteronomy, but continuing on into the histories), this year has been rich to see afresh Jesus Christ, the God-Man that all of history points to, as the fulfillment of the Law and the final answer to the big questions of life, which I'm excited to see being asked in curious ways within our culture (even if some of the answers they are arriving at aren't on target)
Who is God?
How can I know and be in harmony with Him?
These, if you think about it, are questions that we are all asking in one way, shape, or another... even if we don't use that language. We know in our hearts that there is a divine being that is over the universe that created everything, we are not in harmony with Him, and yet our hearts deep desire and yearning is to be in harmony with Him, yet we don't know how... and so we grope.
We also know that evil lives in the world, and that most of us have an inkling that this evil is personified and there is a mind and personality at work behind evil. The Bible reveals that this is indeed true, and that this personality is a created being (created by God) named Lucifer, who instead of keeping in his place of offering worship to God as the archangel, got puffed up with pride and sought to assume worship for himself and to be worshiped as God (Isaiah 14:12-14)
This angelic being, having been thrown down, then seduced our ancient father Adam into believing too that he (Adam) could "be like God" and out of that belief rebelled against God by eating the forbidden fruit and as a result creating the chasm that humanity finds itself in, because we have inherited that same corruption that Adam assumed in his rebellion (Genesis 3:1-6)
Human society has been bound, blinded, oppressive, unjust, dangerous, and in a constant search for meaning on our own ever since. John writes it this way "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (1 John 5:19). "The world" (human society) is organized and influenced to do this being's bidding.
Where is God in this? Did this rebel angel and his minions just win? God is all powerful all-knowing and in control of all things, so why did He allow this to happen?
I often think that if I were God in this moment, I'd just kill Adam and Eve and start over. That would be just. Adam was promised death as a result of eating of the forbidden tree, and he did get what was promised, but much later... however he died spiritually that day and we all live with that consequence. This is why we grope... we are created to commune with God and rush into His presence with the dependency of a child, but now we are cast out... east of Eden. God instead gave them something else...
Grace.
First, he didn't kill them right then and there. They were allowed to live, to multiply and create more sinners, and...
Second, God clothed them and demonstrated the way of reconciliation. He clothed them in animal skins. Think about that. In order to clothe them, an innocent animal had to die and it's skin become the covering that would clothe Adam and Eve from their shameful nakedness. The life of the innocent in exchange for the the guilty.
Finally, He told them about the ultimate defeat of this angel (who is called Satan) and the triumph of the cross.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” - Genesis 3:15
That was a lot... back to where I intended to start... In Luke 22, where I was reading today. Spoiler alert (for those who don't know Christian theology), this "offspring of the woman" who would crush the serpent's head (deal the death blow to Satan and all of his workings) is Jesus Christ. If you don't get anything else out of reading this post, I hope you get that truth. Satan is conquered. His time is short, and we need not fear him. Greater is He (the Holy Spirit) who is in us than he who is in the world (Satan and his minions).
This chapter in scripture covers the events leading up to the cross, which includes the Passover in the upper room, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus's arrest, and His trial before the chief priests.
In it, we see Luke detail two instances where Satan is actively moving to orchestrate the crucifixion of our Lord ("bruise his heel"), and tactics I believe that he uses in our midst today to derail the mission of Christ's Ecclesia (His assembly of those called out of the world, which is translated "church" in our Bibles) and to disconnect us from truly abiding in and receiving from Jesus the life He intends for us (John 15:5).
Satan may be conquered, but he's still staging resistance and attempting to hold ground. We need not fear him but we need to be aware of his strategies and tactics. A decapitated snake can still bite and shoot it's venom. Napoleon staged one last battle upon escaping prison and attempted a stand at Waterloo. Satan has been humiliated and has been bound, but he is still attempting his coup.
First, Satan enters Judas Iscariot
"Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve." - Luke 22:2
I believe this is one of his favorite tactics, knowing church history and our current times. Satan ultimately achieves his aims through deception, and a favorite deception tactic of his is to counterfeit authentic Christianity and to infiltrate the church with false teaching.
Judas was one of the twelve apostles, and not only that he was a prominent member of the twelve. He was the treasurer, which means that he was a trusted member of their band. He wasn't an outsider, he was an insider... and yet he was in league with the devil.
Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a field where an enemy sowed tares among wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). "Tares" (weeds) looked just like wheat until they were grown to maturity, and then showed themselves to be false. This is a call for discernment, because the deceitful influence isn't going to be "obvious."
Paul warns the church against false teachers, saying this:
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds." - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Satan is a master counterfeiter. He will make the deception "look Christian enough" to get an undiscerning church to follow along, and believe that they are following Christ when they are instead following the ways of Satan.
Satan even knows scripture. He knows scripture at least as good as we do. He quoted scripture when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
"and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” - Matthew 4:6
Satan loves to quote the Bible... out of context and inserting his own meaning. Eisegesis (the fancy word for this tactic) has been in his playbook since the beginning. The most dangerous influences are not the cult down the street or the raving mad person who is obviously demon possessed... it is someone who knows all of the right things to say, can quote the Bible, and is inserting his or her own meaning to the text that is out of line with what God said.
Satan's original line -- "Did God really say?" (still a favorite line) gets modified somewhat to a leader we trust saying "God told me..." (and then says something that is out of line with God's word, using God's word if it suits his purpose, which to the undiscerning Christian often works)
Here's the application here. We have to be discerning! We NEED in our churches and in our personal lives to do diligent exegetical work (doing the homework to understand what the text means in it's full context) so that we are hearing accurately from God's word, which is the plumbline of truth. This is not optional. It's table stakes for faithful preaching. There was a reason Sola Scriptura was the defining statement of the Reformation.. the Roman Catholic church insisted that Papal decrees, tradition, and the voice of the church defined what scripture taught... which lead to apostacy. Luther, Calvin, and others held up Sola Scriptura to state that it was the Scriptures that defined what the Church must teach... we should continue to hold up that banner.
We should "test the spirits" always (1 John 4:1), even on Sunday morning, even if your pastor is awesome. We must be like Bereans and run everything we hear against a thorough understanding of scripture. To do otherwise, especially in an age where "many antichrists" have infiltrated our ranks (which has been the case since the first century) would be spiritual negligence. Jesus critiqued the church of Thyatira because they tolerated a very influential false teacher in their ranks (Revelation 2:20). How would He respond to us today who tolerate the influence of the likes of Bethel Redding and their allies with the influence we've given them (as one example)?
I would encourage you to do the same with me and this post. Test it. I am a fallible human too, with a heart to see people come to know God in spirit and truth, and truly receive life from Him. However, I can say something that's off. You need to be in your Bibles and studying them diligently too. We can't just rely on someone to "tell us" - we need to own our faith and as such do the work to understand what God's word means (not "what it means to me" - another deception tactic of Satan) and apply it to the things we face in our lives.
Second, Satan demands to "sift like wheat"
After the apostles get into an argument about who is the greatest among them, and Jesus tells them what true greatness is (in being a servant... in humbling oneself), Jesus tells Peter of Satan's intent for him.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32
What does this mean... what does it mean that Peter (and the original language indicates that this was a test that would befall all of the eleven, but Peter would be get the brunt of it) would be "sifted as wheat?"
In the agricultural practice of the time, wheat would be shaken violently when it was harvested in order to seperate the wheat (the good part, that we create bread from) from the chaff (the husk, which isn't so good). The implication here is clear... Satan is going to create turmoil for the disciples and will tempt them through it to abandon Christ and to reject Him. He would use (whether he causes it or leverages it) these tumultuous times to get the apostles to give up on their trust and hope in Jesus and fall away...
We call this "deconstruction" in 2025.
To quote the line from Zoolander... It's "so hot right now."
We can go to social media to see the stories, and there are plenty of people who have deconstructed who are more than willing to tell their tale.
However, there is one reality that we need to address here. Satan didn't have carte-blanche access to the apostles to put them into a season of doubt...
He had to get permission from God. God allowed this testing to happen.
Just like Job. God allows Satan to act, but he puts limits on him. Satan is bound. His power isn't infinite and God allows it ultimately for God's purposes.
If you belong to Christ, then this is true for you, even when you are under attack.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:28-29
Satan can't attack you without permission. Whatever comes at you, therefore, is because God is allowing it to happen to you, and He has a purpose in allowing these "sift like wheat" experiences to happen.
The experience for Peter was from seeing Jesus in agony in the Garden, the arrest, and eventually when sitting by a fire in the court of the High Priest, from a probing question from a servant girl.
In hindsight, I can think of times where this has happened to me.
- I had one time been influenced by the Bethel movement. The line of "this is a new thing!" is tempting for a Christian who truly wants to experience the abundant life. I experienced something earlier in college from influence from those that were in Vineyard churches who were influenced by the so-called "Toronto Blessing" which was a false revival that brought a lot of these mystical and new-age-lite ideas into our circles.
- Facing CRT and social justice infiltration at a church in Denver we loved and poured ourselves into, and having to leave.
- Experiencing the drift at Buckhead Church and the resulting disillusionment that came from it.
- Being single well into my 30's and into my early 40's
- Job losses and having to rebound from them.
Case in point... all of this Satanic activity was to one end.
To crucify the Son of God.
Think about that. This is what it meant in Genesis that he would "bruise his heel."
This is precisely the means God used to make atonement for our sin, satisfying the wrath that is due to us because we followed in Adam's footsteps, and to for all time defeat death.
"He shall crush your head."
Jesus used the work of Satan to accomplish the greatest glory... His standing in the stead of sinners and being the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. We are justified (saved) because of this act. Jesus tasted the death that Adam (and all of us) deserved so that God's holiness is vindicated in showing we sinners mercy. We can receive this mercy by faith (trusting) in Christ alone for our salvation.
Satan is a pawn in the plans and the will of God. He will try to convince you otherwise, but...
That's a lie.
That's what he does best.
Therefore,
Learn the truth
Study the truth
Love the truth
Defend the truth
Live the truth
Obey the truth
And most of all... preach the Gospel to ourselves constantly because we often fail and need a reminder that God's grace towards us is due to what Jesus accomplished for us and not on our own efforts. This is key to abiding in Him.
If you are at the end of this post, I hope you found it helpful. Again, be a Berean and search for yourself. You owe it to yourself to.
Comments