Jesus Whipped the Devil
Jesus Whipped the Devil
John 6:37-40
During my visits to the Holzheuer family I saw a love and concern for each other that far exceeds anything I have witnessed thus far in my ministry. Being invited into that faith environment became as much a ministry to me as I hope mine was to George and Doris and his children. I am honored and moved to joy by this family’s faith and dependence on the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For our meditation, I would like to share from Scripture the hope and assurance we have, and that we shared with our dear departed friend and brother, George.
A couple of days prior to his passing George made a comment that startled his family. He said, “I’m whipped! The Devil whipped me.” What a blessing his daughter Susan’s right-on response must have been to her Dad. She said, “Dad, Jesus whipped the Devil!” And so He has. But what would lead George to say such a thing? No one knows for sure. But I think I might have some idea about what was happening.
We know that God never intended for His creation to experience the dying process and death. Yet, Scripture tells us “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men.” Dying is not a natural process. It is an unnatural process that we have no control over. No matter what we do, we cannot make ourselves live forever because of sin. The dying process is the clearest indication of God’s judgment on sin. Considering this, we might all say, “I’m whipped! The Devil whipped me.” Where, then, is there hope for the sinner?
Take a look at verse 37 of the Gospel reading. It says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Certainly, these are words of assurance and hope. But how can we be sure it applies to us and our loved ones? That is the fundamental problem that needs to be resolved for every human being. How can we be sure?
In the dying process it indeed looks like the Devil has gained the upper hand. But consider Jesus and his dying process. It is not enough to say that He gave us a good example to follow. Indeed He did do that. But that alone doesn’t answer the question, “How can I be sure?” Even Jesus cries out in His agony of death, “Father, why hast thou forsaken me?” I think that sounds a lot like George’s cry of desperation in the face of death. For indeed it does look like Satan had won the battle when Jesus died. But this is not so. The tomb was found empty. Jesus lives! And because He lives, we too, shall live.
Because He lives the words of verse 37 still apply even to us. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Our assurance and hope of life forever is found secure in the Father’s will to save. And that is what Jesus addresses in the next three verses.
Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” Here is where all the power and might of God is exerted in our behalf. It is in the resurrection of Him who died and was raised again the third day, that is, Jesus Christ. Therein is all hope and assurance and confidence. Why? Because Jesus whipped the Devil. He is not dead, He is alive!
So you see, when the harsh reality of death and judgment come upon us in the dying process, it might feel like we are whipped by the Devil. But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have whipped him through faith in Christ Jesus. This is our Heavenly Father’s will. We can be confident of it.
Well, I am convinced by the will of God. His love for George and his family and all of us has come in the body and blood of Jesus. To be more specific, I believe that George is in heaven because of God’s will to save. I remember two years ago when George had his operation. He made a comment to me then that filled my heart with joy. He said, “Pastor, I have come to the conclusion that everything depends on God. We do not have control. He does. So why worry.” How absolutely right-on he was.
Is it any wonder then that his dying hours would be filled with the sound of family singing and praying around him. Even when death loomed near and he remembered that Jesus had never told him that he loved him, his family reminded him of what he had learned so many years before. “Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are week but he is strong.”
I pray that these words will bring you comfort and assurance and hope. Jesus Whipped the Devil. And because he has, George now makes the sign. I am safe and happy. And I am with you, in Christ. Amen.
Read “His life in Christ”.
