Jesus’ time on earth, His death and resurrection, was a series of clashes. It is easy to see the clash on the cross of God vs Satan. Not good vs evil. That’s too shallow and cartoonish. No, the clash was greater. It was a clash between the King of kings and the Lord of lords , the ultimate Ruler, vs the usurper, the pretender to the throne. The rebel. The loser.
The life of Jesus was also a clash. It was a clash of grace, love, mercy, freedom and new life vs the force of laws, rituals, arrogance, shackles and death. Jesus battled the enemy His entire time on earth. From birth to the grave. The religious system that wanted to bind and keep people under its thumb.
Jesus came to give freedom. He came to give life. He did not come to make people slaves to rules and regulations, to a religious system that oppressed. I like the way Piper worded it:
The cross means freedom from the enslavement of ritual. (p.45)
You can see it in Acts 15. You can see it in Galatians. What? The early battle Peter and the other apostles fought; the battle Paul fought against the oppressive regime of legalism. The cross set us free. Live like it!!
The quote from John Piper is from his excellent book The Passion of Jesus Christ.
Yes, there was a clash between God and the devil. But we must remember that the original clash was born out of freedom. God gave the devil the freedom, the free choice, to rebel or not. He chose to rebel. Many today follow the same choice. And God in His love allows them that freedom.
God bless.
Totally agree with you Victor. We have that freedom to choose.
We are free indeed!
FREEDOM!!! With a tip of the hat to William Wallace.
To know Jesus is to know freedom. Thanks for the inspiration today, Bill!
Blessings!
Agreed and you’re welcome Martha.
Inspiring and encouraging post, Bill. The flesh is so easily fooled and bound. In search of freedom we end up in slavery to the flesh and rules that no person can follow.
It’s all about His perfect love and grace. A good reminder.