After Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, the apostle John records an interesting story for us. John writes, “Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, ‘Sir, we want to meet Jesus.’ Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus” (John 12:20-22). Jesus then goes on to predict His impending death. “Then,” John continues, “a voice spoke from heaven, saying, ‘I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.’ When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, ‘The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.’ He said this to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:28-33).
Now, surely, it was hard enough to hear Jesus speak of His death. However, what sticks out to me is when He calls Satan the “ruler of this world.” That puzzled me for years. Isn’t Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Isn’t God (Jesus) El Shaddai which means “God Almighty” or “God, the All-powerful One?” He is omnipotent (“all powerful”). Job said as much, “I know that you [God] can do anything, and no one can stop you” (Job 42:2). How is it then that Satan could be the ruler of this world?
One of the gifts God conferred upon humanity is the gift of free will. He did so in order to bring glory to Himself. Choosing to love Him – not being forced – glorifies God. The glorification of God is the greatest possible good. However, if we have the choice to love God, that means we also have the free will to not love Him. And that’s what millions of humans have chosen to do for the past two millennia. And as Jesus says, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Matthew 12:30).
If you doubt that Satan rules the world, I suggest you read a newspaper. Every single day we hear of atrocities, brutality, evil, murder, violence, cruelty. There are billions of people who oppose Jesus and therefore are working against Him.
One crystal clear example took place twenty-three years ago today. When, on September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. Crashing the first two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and aimed the others at targets in or near Washington, D.C. The third plane succeeded in striking the Pentagon. The fourth crashed in rural Pennsylvania because of a passenger revolt. Two-thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven people were killed that day.
Do we still question who is the “ruler” of this world? That there are people who oppose Jesus? Those who are working against Him?
We recognize this evil today to remember those who perished, and we pray for their families as we should. However, we should also acknowledge that such evil took place only because some chose evil over good. Hate over love. Satan over Christ.
The choice is ours to make. “Look! I stand at the door and knock,” Jesus says, “If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends”
(Revelation 3:20). Perhaps we could honor this day by helping someone open the door and choose the way, the truth, and the life that is Jesus.
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