thefourthbrother: the average one

The world is still mocking July 27, 2012

“I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.”

Those words  were written in the book of Isaiah, chapter 50, 700 years before Jesus would walk the earth. They are words of prophecy concerning Jesus and they were fulfilled during his suffering at the cross: “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.” Luke 22:63.

Mocking.

The world has always mocked God and the mockery continues today. Just type in the name Jesus in Google and you will find plenty of mockery; ridicule in the form of profane cartoons and Photoshopped images. and artwork Like this one. . .

I suppose any average person would look at this image and think that it is accurate and not profane at all, just a good representation of good verses evil. But the sad truth is that not only is this image profane it is completely inaccurate. This image literally screams out the artists ignorance.

The only battle between good and evil that is waged is the battle that is waged in the human heart. There is no battle between Christ and the devil.

Christ has already won and even before He completed His victory over death and sin, the devil could not stand before him. He tried.

When Jesus walked the earth, Satan threw everything he had at Jesus. The volume of demonic activity during the 3 year ministry of Jesus has never been repeated – and even then there. Was. No. Battle:

Mark 1:34
So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

Luke 9:1
One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.

Luke 13:32
Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.”

Jesus did not have to perform any rituals, recite any written prayers, use “holy” water – he simply spoke and the demon hordes fled as fast as they could go,  many times BEGGING Jesus to not send them to an unsavory place. Does that sound like Jesus had to battle evil?

It sounds like Jesus has been given ALL power and authority in heaven and on earth (Colossians 2: 15). and yet the mockery continues.

The images of a weak, meek and mild Jesus are nothing but deceptions from the devil in his attempts to keep people from believing in the saving power of Christ. Jesus was not meek and mild. Sure, he loved and he had compassion and he healed, but he also picked every fight he was in. When confronted by the religious leaders he fairly slapped them in their self-righteous faces. That is what so infuriated them, driving them to arrest and crucify him – an act completely foretold by their very own prophets concerning the Messiah. Even in their hatred of God they obeyed his Word.

Do you remember the cleansing of the temple when Jesus first started his ministry? Or even the second time before he allowed himself to be arrested and crucified? This was no act of a mild person. He allowed his anger at the sin performed daily in the temple to vent on those people and he drove them and their animals from the temple with a whip. And no one opposed him. I daresay any ordinary person could not have achieved that; an ordinary person would have been beaten senseless and tossed out.

Not Jesus.

His power and authority overwhelmed everyone.

One other example comes to mind, a very good example that is completely ignored and hardly ever covered – even in sermons:

³ Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶ Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18: 3-6)

Did you catch that?

When the troops and officers (mob) came to arrest Jesus, he simply spoke the words “I am He”, and it knocked them all flat on the ground.

Who in the history of the world has ever had the power to simply speak some words and knock people off their feet?

Muhammad?  Buddha?  Hare Christyna? Allah? any Hindu god you can think of? any Greek god?  anyone?

There was only one.

Jesus.

So go ahead and mock, world. Create your stupid pictures and write your profane words and use the name of Jesus every time you curse. But you have been warned – not by me (that is just silly) – you have been warned by God Himself.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Philippians 2:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Jesus is Lord!