To Encourage You

John 18:3 “So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

Would you have Jesus to be your king?  Are you serving Him?  Are you submitting yourself to His rule and will, and seeking to glorify Him in all that you do?  Or are you opposed to Him? Do you have the attitude that “I do not want this man to reign over me” (Luke 19:14)?  You are one that wants to do your own thing and go your own way.  You could care less what He wants of you, and you will fight against any effort He makes to rule your life.  

Well, guess what?  Your efforts to oppose the Kind of Glory are as feeble as those who came against Him in the Garden of Gethsemane with “lanterns and torches and weapons.” Imagine coming against the Light of the World with a lantern.  The One who spoke Light into existence and made the sun and stars – opposed with a LANTERN?!!  His enemies had torches. Imagine a torch against the CONSUMING FIRE, Who is God (Hebrews 12:29).  And then they had “weapons.”  Physical weapons brought against the “Commander of the army of the Lord” (Joshua 5:14). 

While Jesus willingly allowed these enemies to have their way with Him, at the very same time He was defeating His greatest enemy, Satan, who was motivating them.  Please be aware that Jesus is infinitely greater than “he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  And if He’s infinitely greater than Satan, how much greater is He than anyone who would serve Satan in opposition to God?  In the end, any opposition to the kingship of Jesus is opposition against oneself.  The Lord has warned us of the outcome for those who fight against Him and His purposes with these words: “Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction (Psalm 35:8)!”  Sobering words for those who would oppose the omnipotent Jesus.  Yet, while there is time, this loving King, Who willingly gave His life for those who opposed Him, says “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). 

While there is still time, may God help anyone who in futility would fight against God, to submit to Him and be saved.