A Tree and Its Fruit
There are three principal characteristics of Satan’s activity in John: The first is deception. The devil is called a liar and the father of lies. The Gospel says that there is no truth in the devil and that when he lies he speaks according to his own nature (8:44). Falsehood is a form of power, for by convincing people to believe a lie the devil can move people to carry out his designs.
Second, the devil is implicated in the world’s hatred of God, Jesus, and the Christian community. God loves the world and sent his Son as the expression of his love (3:16). There fore, those who belong to God love Jesus, whereas those allied with the devil do not (8:42-44). Insofar as the devil rules the world, hatred characterizes his realm. Jesus tells the world the truth about its evil, and the world hates him for it (7:7). And since God is the one who sent Jesus to testify, the world’s hatred for Jesus is hatred for God (15:23).
Third, the devil wields the power of death. He was a murderer from the beginning and seeks the death of those who oppose him. The adversaries of Jesus show the influence of the devil by seeking to kill Jesus for speaking the truth (8:44, 59). Later, Satan instigates the betrayal that leads to Jesus’ crucifixion (13:2, 27). When Jesus goes to the garden where he is arrested, he is met by a company of armed troops that serve as the agents of the ruler of this world (14:30-31; 18:1-3). God may give life through his Word, but the devil seeks victory by bringing about death.
The book: THE WORD OF LIFE
A Theology of John’s Gospel
By: Craig R. Koester
p.s.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
Wisdom from the Spirit
6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
mclainbill.com 