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Changing of the guard (and the king)Tuesday, March 30, 2010
John 13:21-30 What happens when Satan "enters into" Judas? Judas was powerless before Satan's invasion. From that moment Judas did and said and thought exactly what Satan did and said and thought. He had no relief until the moment Satan left him. Can this happen to anyone? Maybe Satan has better things to do than mess with me; I'm just "an attendant lord, one that will do to swell a progress, start a scene or two, advise the prince ..."* C. S. Lewis thinks Satan sends smaller spirits named Screwtape and such to do his work most of the time. But I don't want to pretend I know much about this part of the world: the "spirit world." What I know from experience can be kept on the head of a pin. The spirit world is given great attention in the Bible, however. Jesus comes to dethrone Satan, who was made ruler of the earth when Adam and Eve turned away from God. We have never known any other ruler, except as much as God chose to reveal himself. This non-psychological language rings bells in my head and encourages my condescension to the wisdom of the past. Surely I know better than that! Aren't these just myths to explain things we ourselves are responsible for? Well, I don't know. I can make stuff up just like anybody, but I don't know. What I do know is if that is true, then I also hope Isaiah's description of Messiah Man Jesus is also true: "He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me ... I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength" (Isaiah 49:1-5)! In a world run and dominated by Satan I am really happy God has a secret weapon. Jesus made his mission clear during the week of his death and resurrection. He is bringing new life to earth. He calls it the Kingdom of God. Now that is what change looks like. I want to celebrate with all my might.
In you, Lord I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue and deliver me; listen to me and save me. Be my rock and refuge, my secure stronghold, and protect me from the power of the wicked. From my mother's womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers. --- Psalm 71 |
In Bill and Ted's Bogus Adventure there is a remarkable scene where the ghosts of Bill and Ted dive and squeeze themselves into two police detectives (one of them is Ted's dad). The cops immediately change into old-man clones of the kids, from body movements to tone of voice to choice of words to motivation. They have been possessed.