Schemes of Satan-13

Satan greatest scheme may be the fact that so many people don’t even consider him to be real or a real threat. Pastors don’t preach on his nature, character, and the depth of his hatred for Jehovah, Jesus, and all who are GOD’s children. Satan doesn’t even like his children as we will soon discover later in this series.

John 11:17  So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 11:18  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; 11:19  and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 

By now, Mary and Martha may have even questioned whether Jesus would actually come. While waiting and hoping that Jesus would save their beloved brother, Lazarus died and was already buried.

11:20  Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. 11:21  Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 11:22  "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 

Her belief was that Jesus could have healed him if He had only come sooner. “If you had been here…” Her belief and understanding of Jesus was incomplete, as was His disciples.

11:23  Jesus *said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 11:24  Martha *said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 

11:25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 11:26  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" 

What was the depth of her belief? She, like Peter earlier, clearly stated that she believed He was the Messiah, the Son of GOD. But, what was her understanding of that profession. Many people today will acknowledge Jesus as the Son of GOD, yet scarcely give it much thought as to what they just declared.

11:27  She *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." 11:28  When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 11:29  And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him. 11:30  Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. 

11:31  Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 11:32  Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." 

Now it was Mary’s turn to state the depth of her belief and understanding of the Son of GOD! Both believed He could heal, but neither believed He would raise him from the tomb.

11:33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 11:34  and said, "Where have you laid him?" They *said to Him, "Lord, come and see." 11:35  Jesus wept. 

11:36  So the Jews were saying, "See how He loved him!" 

11:37  But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?" 

All the miracles and all the teaching, yet to most Jesus was a teacher and maybe a prophet that had the ability to open a blind man’s eyes. They seemed to believe He could have healed him, as did his sisters.

What has this all to do with the schemes of Satan? Satan attacks the ‘church’ from the inside. When people quickly proclaim Jesus to be the Son of GOD, yet don’t really consider what they just declared, this pleases Satan. All the false teachers are his servants. Many teach that Jesus never really declared that He was the Son of GOD or equal to GOD. They trample on His name when they deny His eternal deity and oneness with the Father.

Hebrews 10:29  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 10:30  For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 10:31  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

More next Saturday.