September 14, 2023
Time Is Winding Down
“You heard that I said to you, I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.” John 14:28-31 (NASB)
In time, Jesus is coming back. He is coming back to gather His flock. He told us now so we would be ready when He appears. Are you ready?
“You heard that I said to you, I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced…” Note Jesus’ mild rebuke, “If you loved me…” Jesus had already assured them of His promises and the resurrection, but they were still disturbed. They couldn’t imagine their lives being the same without Jesus. MacArthur says, “The disciples were troubled in part because their faith was weak (cf. Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20). But beyond that, their anxiety stemmed from selfish short-sightedness. They saw the Lord’s death only in terms of what would be lost to them, not what would be gained from Him.”[1] “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.” So far, Jesus’s disciples have lasted longer than many. They stood the test of time but, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” The teachings of Jesus were just too much for some. So they walked away. The disciples would have a chance to see what Jesus had been telling them would finally come true. But there would still be some gaps in their belief system. This is why Jesus responded as such, “I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.” With so many false prophets, one can imagine the problems which were stirred by so many. Many prophesied but were never real. Then Jesus says, “It’s time guys to wrap this all up.” I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;” The ruler of the world is Satan. Jesus tells His disciples “he has nothing in Me.” Jesus was saying Satan doesn’t have the ability: 1) to kill Jesus. to inflict death upon God Incarnate. Jesus died of His own free will. 2) He can’t find anything to accuse Jesus. I Am the sinless, stainless Son of God. 3) He doesn’t have power over Jesus. He possesses all power and authority over heaven and earth. 4) He has no claim over Jesus. He can’t condemn Jesus. Jesus's death provided all the forgiveness needed to free all those who believe in Him. “The two thoughts are placed side by side: Satan is coming, and in me he has nothing… The Greek doubles and thus strengthens the negation. The sense of “nothing” is made plain. Nothing that might justify this ruler in coming to strike at Jesus. That is why “in me” is so emphatic. Jesus differs from all other men. No link of any kind exists between him and Satan—only an impassable gulf. That this is due to the absolute sinlessness of Jesus is only part of the truth. The sinlessness is itself due to the deity of Jesus.”[2]
Satan is roaming the earth today, looking for his next victim. Don’t be the one he takes. Jesus made a promise. “I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.”
[1] (John MacArthur, 2006), 135.
[2] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The interpretation of St. John’s gospel (pp. 1022–1023). Augsburg Publishing House.