Reflecting on Luke 10:17-21
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes..." (Luke 10:19)I do not take these words of Jesus literally.
I hear them in the context of Genesis 3, God’s curse on the serpent.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
We live in a world of snakes and scorpions, a world under a curse.
Humans were designed to rule this world in a God-like way.
But the serpent deceived and enslaved them, becoming their ruler.
The Deceiver is a self-proclaimed ruler (prince) of this world.
No human has ever succeeded in breaking free from his authority.
Until Jesus came; Satan was not able to deceive and enslave Jesus.
No matter how he struck at Jesus, he could not defeat Him.
Jesus is the offspring of the woman that crushes the snake’s head.
Not literally, but through obedience to God and God’s will for living.
By loving God and people fully, Jesus did what no other human has.
Jesus overcomes evil and the Evil One by living in a God-like way.
The disciples are not literally going around and trampling anyone.
Their humble, gracious love and service to others is doing that.
Theirs is not the authority of the big and the strong, the rich or the wise.
They are like “little children” (Luke 10:21), like “lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3).
Love is their superpower, and Satan cannot stand up to it.
When Jesus is lifted up to the cross, Satan falls from his illegitimate throne.
Love triumphs over hate, evil, cruelty, abuse, violence, greed, etc.
God backs their deeds of love and mercy by healing and helping people.
Those afflicted physically and spiritually are released and renewed.
Those crushed by the curse experience freedom, forgiveness, hope and joy.
The results are so dramatic that Jesus has to caution them.
Don’t let it get to your head, don’t rejoice because the demons submit to you.
God has graciously elevated them, written their names over Satan’s.
I believe that God-like love, as seen in Jesus, is what saves the world.
I believe that God-like love was Jesus’s superpower, what defeated the serpent.
I believe that Jesus calls and equips us with this same superpower.
And I believe that the darkness will be pushed back when the light of love shines.
Our world is not filled with enemies to be crushed.
Our world is filled with neighbours to be loved.
Jesus has shown us what God-like love looks like.
And He has authorized us to continue His mission of God-like love.
There are supposedly 2.3 billion christians in the world.
Imagine if all of those 2.3 billion christians loved in a God-like Way?
I believe we would see the darkness diminish.
I believe we would see Satan fall like lightning.
I believe we would see captives released, and sick people restored.
We have the ability to crush evil with goodness and love.
We have the Spirit of Jesus filling us with love, joy, peace, etc.
We have the call of Jesus to do this.
And we have the backing of God, Who multiplies the impact of our weak efforts.
Nothing is stopping us… yet for some reason we are stuck.
This story reminds me that love wins!
The way of humble, gracious love is not weak; it crushes Satan!
I am comforted, convicted and compelled by this.
I rejoice that my name is written down with God’s Name.
I am authorized and empowered by God to continue Jesus’s mission of love.
The gates of hell cannot prevail against us.
May the love of God inspire and motivate me toi boldly live for love!
And may God soon crush the serpent under my feet.
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet!” (Romans 16:20).
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, renew my confidence in the power and authority of love. Make me a channel of Your love, joy and peace, and may those trapped under the curse experience healing, hope and help through my humble service of love.