When the Power of Darkness Reigns : Luke 22:49-53 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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When the Power of Darkness Reigns - Luke 22:49-53

The followers of Jesus were standing there too. They saw what was happening. The followers said to Jesus, "Lord, should we use our swords?" And one of the followers did use his sword. He cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus said, "Stop!" Then Jesus touched the servant's ear and healed him. The group that came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the Jewish soldiers. Jesus said to them, "Why did you come out here with swords and sticks? Do you think I am a criminal? I was with you every day in the temple area. Why didn't you try to arrest me there? But this is your time--the time when darkness (sin) rules." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

We forget, I fear, that we don't live in this world alone. We face a foe seeking to harm us. He seeks to disable, discredit, and destroy us. He will have his moments of victory, leading us to stumble and fall. There will be times on this earth when the power of darkness does reign. However, because Jesus won the ultimate victory in this battle beginning in the garden and leading to the Cross, our victory in our war against Satan, sin, and death is assured. Darkness had its moment, but it could not snuff out the light of God. The light and love of God reign because of the victory of Jesus.

Today's Prayer

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Father, please never let me forget that in your Son, I have the ultimate victory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

Jesus left the city (Jerusalem) and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (Jesus went there often.) Jesus said to his followers, "Pray for strength against temptation." Then Jesus went about 50 steps away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, "Father, if it is what you want, then let me not have this cup {of suffering}. But do what you want, not what I want." Then an angel from heaven appeared. The angel was sent to help Jesus. Jesus was full of pain; he struggled hard in prayer. Sweat dripped from his face like he was bleeding. When Jesus finished praying, he went to his followers. They were asleep. (Their sadness had made them very tired.) Jesus said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation." While Jesus was speaking, a group of people came. One of the twelve apostles was leading the group. He was Judas. Judas came close to Jesus so that he could kiss Jesus. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you using the kiss {of friendship} to give the Son of Man {to his enemies}?" The followers of Jesus were standing there too. They saw what was happening. The followers said to Jesus, "Lord, should we use our swords?" And one of the followers did use his sword. He cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus said, "Stop!" Then Jesus touched the servant's ear and healed him. The group that came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the Jewish soldiers. Jesus said to them, "Why did you come out here with swords and sticks? Do you think I am a criminal? I was with you every day in the temple area. Why didn't you try to arrest me there? But this is your time--the time when darkness (sin) rules."

— Luke 22:39-53 (ERV)

You were raised from death with Christ. So try to get the things in heaven. I mean the things where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Christ is your life. When he comes again, you will share in his glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 (ERV)

Can anything separate us from Christ's love? No! Can trouble separate us from Christ's love? No! Can problems or persecution separate us from Christ's love? No! If we have no food or clothes, will that separate us from Christ's love? No! Will danger or even death separate us from Christ's love? No! Like it is written in the Scriptures : "For you (Christ) we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed." But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us.
Romans 8:35-37 (ERV)

Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant. You will be my witness--you will tell people the things that you have seen about me today and the things that I will show you. This is why I have come to you today. I will not let {your own} people (the Jews) hurt you. And I will keep you safe from the non-Jewish people too. I am sending you to these people. You will show the people the Truth. The people will turn away from darkness (sin) to the light (good). They will turn away from the power of Satan, and they will turn to God. Then their sins can be forgiven. They can have a share with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.'"
Acts 26:16-18 (ERV)

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HEARTLIGHT^® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. PO Box 7044, Abilene, TX, USA 79608-7044. Copyright © 1996-2009. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.