December 12 Deliverance

Luke 9:43b-45 While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
 
MANY are praising Jesus for his healing work. What happiness for all to experience the joy of the boy’s salvation from demon-driven convulsions. This certainly was time for Jesus to say, “Look at God’s Kingdom power here!”
   Instead, Jesus has eternity on his mind. He knows that what is about to happen to him is ultimately of a far greater deliverance than the boy’s healing. Amid the public celebration, then, he took his disciples aside to speak a disturbing prophecy: “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
   Consider the disciples’ shock. “Son of Man” relates to the power of the Holy God, whom the Jews knew as Yahweh. “Yahweh” is the eternal “I Am”, who identified himself to Moses in Exodus 3. How could one of Yahweh, who delivered his people from Egypt, be delivered into any man’s hand? It’s not possible to betray – turn against – the eternal God. Was this blasphemy to say one would deliver the Deliverer?
Jesus teaches again of his Servant-savior role. The disciples did not understand his words because they could not comprehend one has powerful as Jesus submitting to anyone. Surely this healing, demon-exorcising, life-restoring Lord would not allow anyone to betray him. Evil confronted him, and evil always lost. Surely Jesus would overcome all opposition!
   We can’t blame the disciples for not knowing. Jesus, the Son of Man, is one-of-a-kind. He was fully man. He was fully God. He lived on earth, so he could die on earth for your sins. Jesus, the servant Son of Man, would submit to sin, so all his disciples through all time would not have to do so.
Remember Jesus’ eternal power is demonstrated eternally in this: Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Understand, believe and live in faith that the power of Yahweh – the I AM – was delivered unto the cross, so you would be delivered from sin.
   Trust the Bible’s truth. Live in this knowledge. Live a life of happiness in your eternal salvation. Then “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalms 118:29)
 
Prayer: Thank you, servant Jesus, that you have delivered me from sin. In joy, I praise you, God. Amen.