Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler
of this world will be cast out (John 12:31).
Jesus predicts
His death. He says that the hour has come that the Son of Man should be
glorified. The people do not understand that Christ must die. How can an
earthly king gain an earthly kingdom, which is what they were expecting of the
Messiah, by dying? They do not understand that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this
world.[1]
He is not warring against flesh and blood, but against the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, sin, death,
and Satan.[2]
And, for Him to be victorious over Satan, Jesus must be lifted up from the
earth, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.[3]
Those who do not understand that Jesus is talking about his crucifixion, will
understand presently. Satan also does not understand. Satan also thinks Jesus’
crucifixion means Jesus’ defeat. By inciting the world to kill Jesus, however,
Satan wrecked his own domain.[4]
In the book of
Job, we are shown the scene of God’s court. Satan, the accuser, comes before
God to prosecute his case against men.[5]
With the Christ’s death and resurrection, the world is judged, and the ruler of
this world will be cast out. No longer does Satan have the right to accuse
God’s people. Christ has cast him into the bottomless pit where he will be
bound for 1,000 years. During that time, Satan can no longer deceive the
nations.[6]
The 1,000 years are now, when Christ reigns with His saints through the Gospel.[7]
Jesus,
who had been baptized by John the Baptist, anointed by the Holy Spirit, and
confirmed by the voice of God the Father, proclaimed that the kingdom of God
had arrived, and He was it’s sovereign.[8]
Jesus’ baptism was a royal coronation. He would soon take his place on His
throne at the right hand of God the Father. At His second coming, Jesus tells
us that He will make all things new again. Creation will be restored to its
perfect condition. Sin, death, and the devil will disappear forever. His
mission, at His first coming, was to redeem mankind by His death and
resurrection, that all who believe in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. At His second coming, His mission will be to judge mankind.
The one who rejects Him, Jesus says, will be judged on the Last Day by the
words Jesus has already spoken.
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