CREDENTIALS OF JESUS: THE DEVIL'S TESTIMONY
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Credentials Of Jesus
a) When someone expects our trust, we look for credentials. What entitles that person to our trust? What testimony is there that this person should be believed? This applies to our faith in Jesus. He has credentials. He is not without testimony that he is truly whom he claims to be.
2. The Devil’s Testimony
a) At the outset of his public life, Jesus underwent a lonely ordeal, in which he was tested by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). This ordeal pushed body and spirit to the outer limits of endurance. Jesus passed through this trial the victor, and continued to pass the test throughout his life (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:21-23). . That he graduated from this test ought also to be added to his credentials.
b) Moreover, Satan himself has here inadvertently and indirectly testified that Jesus is the Son of God. Since he is a liar and a deceiver, himself without credentials, we would not believe any direct claim he made. However the fact that he troubled himself to try to cast doubt on the truth by saying, "If you are the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:6) shows that he knew Jesus to be the Son of God. His demons also revealed that they knew this. The legion, speaking through the man they possessed, cried out, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:2-9, cf Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:13-16). Satan saw Jesus as his enemy, but he knew who his enemy was, and stupidly let it out that he knew. This intelligence from the enemy's camp is obviously not disinformation. It should therefore be added to the credentials of Jesus.
The End ...
1. Credentials Of Jesus a) When someone expects our trust, we look for credentials. What entitles that person to our trust? What testimony is there that this person should be believed? This applies to our faith in Jesus. He has credentials. He is not without testimony that he is truly whom he claims to be.
2. The Devil’s Testimony
a) At the outset of his public life, Jesus underwent a lonely ordeal, in which he was tested by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). This ordeal pushed body and spirit to the outer limits of endurance. Jesus passed through this trial the victor, and continued to pass the test throughout his life (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:21-23). . That he graduated from this test ought also to be added to his credentials.
b) Moreover, Satan himself has here inadvertently and indirectly testified that Jesus is the Son of God. Since he is a liar and a deceiver, himself without credentials, we would not believe any direct claim he made. However the fact that he troubled himself to try to cast doubt on the truth by saying, "If you are the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:6) shows that he knew Jesus to be the Son of God. His demons also revealed that they knew this. The legion, speaking through the man they possessed, cried out, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:2-9, cf Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:13-16). Satan saw Jesus as his enemy, but he knew who his enemy was, and stupidly let it out that he knew. This intelligence from the enemy's camp is obviously not disinformation. It should therefore be added to the credentials of Jesus.
Comments
Post a Comment