As I watched the events of Wednesday unfold, I saw the Christian Flag limp and dragging the floor being carried into the Senate Chamber. Later on, I saw a flag with the name JESUS carried casually around outside the Capital Building. Sometime later, I saw a tee shirt worn by somebody with the emblem of a Bible worn over a chubby belly with the words "Holy Bible" on the front. Seeing those words and emblems in that context seemed out of place and somewhat strange. I have been thinking about these images since Wednesday.
A question comes to my mind every time I go back and reflect on what I saw. The question is,
"Would Jesus be a part of an insurrection?"
Every time I think about it, the same answer comes to mind, "Yes, He would."
Jesus participates in insurrection, because He has already participated in them, but not the way you might think.
Don't forget about the first coup attempt when the angel Lucifer decided he wanted to replace God in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:9). Now, if you believe in the preexistence of Jesus (Colossians 1:17), and I do, Jesus had to be a part of God's take-down of the devil and the devil's removal from the portals of glory. Jesus participated in the clean-up after Satan along with his minions were thrown out. Jesus was the remedy, not the cause.
Then, as if the devil didn't learn his lesson, he tried it again when he tempted Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Satan led an insurrection in creation by attempting to overthrow what God had commanded Adam and Eve to do (Genesis 3).
Remember what God did?
He threw the serpent out of the Garden along with Adam and Eve. He placed an angel at the front gate with a flaming sword in his hand to guard His garden and the tree of life so nobody could ever again usurp His authority. Yes, Jesus was there and participated once again in casting Satan down and putting him in his place.
The New Testament is full of Jesus throwing Satan out of places and people. The devil always tries to take over. Jesus cast demons out of people 12 times during His ministry. He commanded them, once He foiled their takeover attempt, to keep quiet about it. He sent a bunch of them into a herd of pigs that committed suicide jumping over a cliff and into the sea (Matthew 8:28-32). Mary Magdalene had 7 demons that Jesus cast out making her whole again (Luke 8:2). Jesus did not participate in the take-over side of Satan's insurrections. Instead of insurrection, He made the restoration and clean-up side happen. He put back together what Satan tried to tear apart.
The most profound hostile takeover attempt of Satan was when the angry mob, believing and acting on the blatant lies of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin counsel saying Jesus was an imposter. The crowd screamed and clamored to Pilate in their hate filled rebellion, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Jesus let them have their way. He laid down his life as a ransom for many (1 Timothy 2:6).
They along with the devil thought their coup attempt was a success, but not so. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave once again cleaning up the overthrow that Satan had tried. The tomb is empty. Sin and death is no more and ole "Mister Nasty" is once again thrown down.
Yes, Jesus has a place during an insurrection. The Bible is welcome. The Christian Flag belongs wherever hostile takeovers take place. These are not a cause. They are the answer to insurrection. Jesus is a reconciler, a peacemaker, a redeemer who cleans up the mess, calms the waters and restores order. Jesus fixes the chaos and hatred and bloodshed that insurrection leaves behind.
One more point. The apostle Paul confessed that insurrection is a daily problem in his own soul. He does not do what he knows he should do, and then he turns around and does the very things he knows he should not do (Romans 7:18-20). Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" Paul, needs help cleaning up the rebellion and insurrection in his own life. Listen to His victory confession, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus wins! His life is saved! The rebellion is over and through Jesus his soul is no longer controlled by chaos.
Man! When it comes to insurrection, I want to be on the Jesus side of it. Satan, and chaos, and insurrection have no chance when Jesus is there.
Pastor Mike
A question comes to my mind every time I go back and reflect on what I saw. The question is,
"Would Jesus be a part of an insurrection?"
Every time I think about it, the same answer comes to mind, "Yes, He would."
Jesus participates in insurrection, because He has already participated in them, but not the way you might think.
Don't forget about the first coup attempt when the angel Lucifer decided he wanted to replace God in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:9). Now, if you believe in the preexistence of Jesus (Colossians 1:17), and I do, Jesus had to be a part of God's take-down of the devil and the devil's removal from the portals of glory. Jesus participated in the clean-up after Satan along with his minions were thrown out. Jesus was the remedy, not the cause.
Then, as if the devil didn't learn his lesson, he tried it again when he tempted Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Satan led an insurrection in creation by attempting to overthrow what God had commanded Adam and Eve to do (Genesis 3).
Remember what God did?
He threw the serpent out of the Garden along with Adam and Eve. He placed an angel at the front gate with a flaming sword in his hand to guard His garden and the tree of life so nobody could ever again usurp His authority. Yes, Jesus was there and participated once again in casting Satan down and putting him in his place.
The New Testament is full of Jesus throwing Satan out of places and people. The devil always tries to take over. Jesus cast demons out of people 12 times during His ministry. He commanded them, once He foiled their takeover attempt, to keep quiet about it. He sent a bunch of them into a herd of pigs that committed suicide jumping over a cliff and into the sea (Matthew 8:28-32). Mary Magdalene had 7 demons that Jesus cast out making her whole again (Luke 8:2). Jesus did not participate in the take-over side of Satan's insurrections. Instead of insurrection, He made the restoration and clean-up side happen. He put back together what Satan tried to tear apart.
The most profound hostile takeover attempt of Satan was when the angry mob, believing and acting on the blatant lies of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin counsel saying Jesus was an imposter. The crowd screamed and clamored to Pilate in their hate filled rebellion, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Jesus let them have their way. He laid down his life as a ransom for many (1 Timothy 2:6).
They along with the devil thought their coup attempt was a success, but not so. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave once again cleaning up the overthrow that Satan had tried. The tomb is empty. Sin and death is no more and ole "Mister Nasty" is once again thrown down.
Yes, Jesus has a place during an insurrection. The Bible is welcome. The Christian Flag belongs wherever hostile takeovers take place. These are not a cause. They are the answer to insurrection. Jesus is a reconciler, a peacemaker, a redeemer who cleans up the mess, calms the waters and restores order. Jesus fixes the chaos and hatred and bloodshed that insurrection leaves behind.
One more point. The apostle Paul confessed that insurrection is a daily problem in his own soul. He does not do what he knows he should do, and then he turns around and does the very things he knows he should not do (Romans 7:18-20). Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" Paul, needs help cleaning up the rebellion and insurrection in his own life. Listen to His victory confession, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus wins! His life is saved! The rebellion is over and through Jesus his soul is no longer controlled by chaos.
Man! When it comes to insurrection, I want to be on the Jesus side of it. Satan, and chaos, and insurrection have no chance when Jesus is there.
Pastor Mike
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