Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. BCP 507

Following are the BCP readings for today’s Daily Office. I will deal with only a portion of one verse. I just want to make it perfectly clear who is being referenced in 2 Corinthians 4:4 as the ‘god of this world.’ I would ask that you read these passages as if the passage read, ‘Satan, the god of this world’ instead of simply the god of this world. Realize that in the time that this was written and in our current time Satan is alive and well. It is Satan who is the god, small ‘g’, of this world. Satan is our enemy and constantly veiling the Gospel from the sight of the people who do not know the power of God and the power of the resurrected Christ, Jesus. Satan can even come into the mind and speak in the ear of the faithful follower.

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

The Request of James and John

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

           

(Mark 10:32-45 ESV)

The Light of the Gospel

            Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasures in Jars of Clay

            But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

           

(2 Corinthians 4:1-12 ESV)

John’s Revelation tells us that Satan and his followers were evicted from Heaven and the presence of the Lord, where to this day he resides and exercises his power on the earth. “The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 12:9 NRSA

Although he was cast out of Heaven, he still in under the authority of the Lord and can not usurp that authority. God allows Satan to be the prince or god of the earth.” One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” Job 1:6 NRSA

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.” From Marks Gospel we can see that it is God’s will for us become His children. But, by the presence of Satan on earth we are subject to Satan’s deceitful ways and leadings. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." Job 1:7 NRSA

“The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized” Mark here reminds us that as a real man on the earth he too is subject to Satan. By his death and resurrection our condemnation to be subject forever to Satan (Death) his vanquished and we can have life (eternally in the presence of God).  But as was the case with Jesus we are to resist Satan’s attempts to win us over by following His example. The tool He used was the Holy Scripture. “He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Mark 1:13 NRSA

“the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.” As close as they were to Jesus for three years they still were thinking only of themselves. They had forgotten the words Jesus as told by Luke: “He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” Luke 10:18 Jesus knows how easily God can deal with Satan, but that in this case He must face this terrible time for our sakes.

 

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Satan was an instrument in the death of Jesus. Judas was invaded and taken over by darkness and Death. “After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him (Judas). Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do." John 13:27 NRSA

 

While the war is won and Jesus reigns in Heaven, Satan will remain at his dirty work until Jesus comes again. At the final judgment Satan and all those who have joined him in darkness will be cast into an eternal lake of fire. Until that day beware of the ‘god of this world, Satan, Death, darkness who walks to and fro on the earth, and is walking up and down on it.

 

Lent is a time to prepare for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lent is a time to get our affairs straight and our house clean. Walk away from darkness and into the Light of the Gospel.

 INJ