Evil On A Leash

Evil on a Leash

Read: John 19:1-16

“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”

John 19:11

“God is so powerful that He can direct any evil to a good end.”

—Thomas Aquinas

IN WORD The situation is bleak. As He stands before Pilate, all Jerusalem, it seems, is arrayed against Jesus, the disappointing “deliverer.” The Jewish leadership is screaming for His execution, and the Roman authorities are compliant and compromising enough to let it happen. Evil rules the day.

One of the amazing ironies about the crucifixion of Jesus is that while evil is winning the battle—rather handily, in fact—God is winning the war. God and Satan have exactly the same goal in this situation—the death of Jesus— but for entirely different reasons. The enemy’s purposes reflect his evil nature; but his vision is limited. He doesn’t realize that God hasn’t lost His grip on his leash; he thinks he has finally broken free enough to do some real damage. All the while, he is accomplishing God’s greater purposes.

Do you ever wish you could have the assurance that Jesus has? Do you want to know that the enemy—and his instruments in this world—would have no power over you if it were not given them from above? Do you want the peace of knowing that whatever weapons he wields, they will end up furthering God’s purposes for you, rather than harming you as he intends? Such assurance, such peace can be ours. We can quote Jesus’ line with confidence: Any power that comes against us is allowed by God above—for a reason.

IN DEED When your situation is critical, remember the calm of Jesus in the midst of His greatest storm. Remember Joseph’s insight: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Remember the principle Paul lays down for us later: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, italics added). Are you in a difficult place? It has been allowed from above. It always is. God is accomplishing His purpose through it.