CONCERNED FOR HIS ENEMIES
TEXT: Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against Him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:52-53)
I don’t think I’d ever realized before that it wasn’t just ordinary guards and servants who came out to arrest Jesus – apparently the chief priests and temple officers themselves came out, at least a few. Maybe they wanted to make sure it went smoothly.
But that gave Jesus the chance to say right to their faces, “Why are you behaving in this ridiculous, illegal way? You are doing the work of the devil.” Which is something they really needed to hear, because they were doing evil and putting their spiritual lives in great danger.
For their own sakes, Jesus had to warn them. It didn’t change what happened that night, but who knows what they remembered in the years to come? Because Jesus was about to die and rise again to save sinful, broken human beings-and that included these people, His enemies.
Did it work? Well, the book of Acts tells us that “the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7b). So yes, it’s totally possible that some of these people came to faith in Jesus. And no surprise, because we ourselves were once enemies of God, until His Holy Spirit planted faith in our hearts, and made us God’s own.
WE PRAY: Lord, Your words have power to save. Thank You for calling me to be Your own. Amen.
——————— Reflection Questions
• Have you ever had to warn someone they were on the wrong path?
• Did they take it well?
• Did it make a difference later, do you think?
Responses