(Read John 18:22-29)
We are just two weeks aways from Resurrection Sunday morning. So this morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series, “The Road to the Resurrection.” In our last message we saw how a policeman slapped Jesus across the face because he did not like the way Jesus responded to one of Annas’ questions. After being slapped Jesus said, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why are you beating me?” The policeman, of course, did not respond. Annas, the former/deposed High Priest, did not have any more questions for Jesus, so he had the guards take Jesus to his son-in-law, the High Priest at the time, Caiaphas. It was very late by the time Jesus arrived at Caiaphas’ home and the High Priest was ready for a second round of interrogations.
Caiaphas’ interrogation lasted until the early hours of the morning. And after hours of futile questioning, the Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. But the Israelites were not in charge. Their country was under the rule of Rome at the time and the two High Priests knew that if they had Jesus killed, then they could be brought up on murder charges. So Annas and Caiaphas decided to get the Romans involved. The Romans were the only ones with the legal authority to have someone executed.
Annas and Caiaphas took Jesus to the Roman governor’s palace. These priests had the audacity to show up at Pilate’s home early in the morning. And if that were not bold enough, the priests refused to go into the home. Annas and Caiaphas were Jews and they knew that entering the home of Pilate would make them unclean. Sure, they could endure the process of becoming clean again, but they did not have time for that, because the PASSOVER was just days away. So, in an effort to remain ceremonially clean, these lying, conniving, backstabbing priests asked Pilate to come outside. And as luck would have it — and by luck, I mean satan — Pilate, the Roman governor, actually came outside, early in the morning, to meet with a couple of crooked priests and their innocent prisoner. We will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Satan will do all he can to stop you. You are powerful. You are anointed. You are appointed by God. You are called to make a difference. That is why satan will move through people to talk about you, accuse you, lie, and attack your character. But don’t get upset. Take it as a compliment. Satan only attacks those worth attacking, so if he is coming up against you, then you obviously have a great assignment.
2. The only way you can lose is if you quit. Satan will go to great lengths to attempt to stop you. But the good news is that he can’t. The only person with the power to stop you is you. That is why satan does all he can to get you so frustrated that you want to quit. If you quit, you lose, but satan did not stop you, you stopped yourself.
3. If satan knew any better he would leave you alone. Paul told us that had the princes of this world known what they were doing, they would have never crucified the Lord of Glory. Satan thought he was winning while he was having Jesus crucified. However, when the first drop of blood hit the ground, it sealed satan’s fate. Satan’s attack on Jesus backfired on him and the same will happen with you, if you choose to keep going by God’s grace. The more satan attacks you, and the more you have to overcome, the more you will grow in Christ and the great impact you will have in the earth.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about the amazing life of Jesus, Your Son. While Jesus was the only innocent man to ever walk the planet, He was accused, lied on, attacked, beaten, bruised, and killed… all in an attempt to stop Him from completing His assignment and fulfilling His purpose. However, satan’s attacks backfired on him. Satan thought he was winning when he was killing Jesus, but when the first drop of blood hit the ground, it sealed satan’s fate forever. Jesus never gave up, He never caved in, and He never quit. Because of it, Jesus was able to overcome every attack. I am just like Jesus. You have given me an assignment and I am determined to accomplish it before I die. Satan will attack me, and it is not really because of me. He is attacking me, because he is attacking my assignment. But like Jesus, I have the grace to keep going. The more satan attacks me, the more it backfires on him, and the stronger I get. I will not lose, because I refuse to quit! I have the grace to keep going, no matter how strong the opposition, and no matter how ugly the attacks get. I am Your child, I am called according to Your purpose, and by Your grace I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
