"Suicide of Evil" August 27 Readings: Matthew 26:1-19, Mark 14:1-16, Luke 22:1-13, John 13:1-20

Today's Reading -  Matthew 26:1-19, Mark 14:1-16, Luke 22:1-13, John 13:1-20

Background

And now it gets serious. 

To this point, the religious leaders have hated Jesus.  They've schemed and plotted against him. But now they actually are planning his death. They have put feet to their hate and set in motion the scheme that would result in the passion of the Christ. 

They get a break when Judas got upset with Jesus over a financial matter. A woman anointed him with expensive perfume and Judas wanted it given to the treasury (which he kept and dipped into according to John 12) for his own selfish purposes. When Jesus did not do as he said and perhaps after hearing Jesus talk about dying over and over again, Judas despaired of Jesus' ability to establish a successful earthly, political kingdom and he threw in the towel. He went to the Pharisees and agreed to betray Jesus for money - 30 pieces of silver. 

Thus begins the fateful day, as Jesus sends his disciples to begin preparations for Passover. The end is near, Jesus knows it, and he faces what is to come with bravery and determination to fulfill God's purpose. 

The story in John 13 of Jesus washing his disciples' feet is remarkable. We've seen him do miracles and teach deep things of God, but now he bends down to wash the dirty feet of the men who had pledged to follow him. It demonstrates the humble greatness of Christ. 

Devotional - The Suicide of Evil

Luke 22:3 contains five interesting words.

"Then Satan entered into Judas..." 

The time of the death of Jesus Christ was drawing near and Satan was at work to bring his enemy down. He had set himself against the Creator and was committed to bringing all of the Father's work to nothing.

So, he "entered" Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, to lead him to betray Jesus. This did not absolve Judas of his guilt in Jesus' death, but it did produce one of the greatest ironies in history.

Think about it. Satan, the great enemy of God, moved in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus to the Romans and bring his life to an end. It must have seemed like a great victory. If Satan can feel joy or glee, it must have happened as he saw Jesus tried, convicted, tortured, ridiculed and eventually crucified. But here is the irony. The events that Satan put into place when he entered into Judas, the events he thought were his moment of glory, were actually suicide. He was destroying himself. When Jesus died, Satan was finished. When Jesus rose, Satan's death blow was inflicted. He is still thrashing around and seeking to destroy, but Jesus has mortally wounded the enemy.

Sin is suicide; it always destroys itself. When Satan rebelled against God, his destiny was sealed. When he moved in Judas to betray Jesus, he was actually causing his own destruction. That is the nature of sin. It presents itself as fun, as pleasure or as profit. But in the end, it is nothing but destruction. Self-destruction.

Christians are often called unloving when we identify sin as sin. But if the Word of God is true, then we are simply trying to prevent people from engaging in spiritual suicide. Is it love to stand by and watch as someone destroys themselves?

Satan's schemes resulted in his own destruction. My sinful choices may seem fun at the moment, but they are spiritual suicide. Each time I choose sin I am not only offending God but hurting myself.

Father, you are the Creator of Life and the one who blesses me with life both eternal and abundant. Help me to remember that rebellion against you is not only offensive, but destructive to all that you have intended to bless me with. 

Think and Pray

It is easy to despair and to think that the world of evil is overwhelming and that good can never prevail. Remember that sin destroys itself and that God has destroyed evil in Christ. We stand victorious in him and can face this world with confidence and hope, by faith in Christ. 

Give praise to God today for his triumph in Christ.