The Devil And The Crucifixion!

 

The Devil And The Crucifixion!

 

In Christianity we often hear something like, “If the devil knew the Bible he would not have crucified JESUS” or “If the devil knew what was going to happen he would not have crucified JESUS.” This gives the devil too much credit, actually he could not stop the crucifixion of JESUS!

 

In the account of JESUS and the disciples traveling around Caesarea-Philippi He asked them who people were saying they thought He was. Then He asked them Who they thought He was and Peter answered, “You are The CHRIST, The Son of The Living GOD.”, then JESUS warned them not to tell anyone. Next JESUS told them about His pending arrest and crucifixion; Peter took JESUS aside and rebuked JESUS saying, “Far be it from You, LORD; this shall not happen to You.” JESUS then corrected the devil who was using Peter to try to dissuade JESUS from His appointed purpose. “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of GOD, but the things of men.” JESUS was not talking to Peter and the disciples He was talking to the devil who understood the ramifications of CHRIST’s birth, death and resurrection. Matthew 16:13-23; Mark 8:27-33; Luke 9:18-22

 

The devil had been trying to stop JESUS since His birth from fulfilling GOD’s plan for humanities Salvation. He tried to have JESUS murdered when He was about 2 years old. The devil tried to trick JESUS during His 40 days of fasting after His baptism. But, he was not able to accomplish either. Matthew 2, 4:1-11; Mark 1:9-13; Luke 4:1-13

 

The devil knew from the beginning GOD’s plan for humanity: that humanity was made in GOD’s image (the angles were not), that humans would sin because of deception (by the devil) and disobedience. Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7, 18-25; 3

 

GOD planned humanities redemption from before the creation of the earth. “So the LORD said to the serpent (the devil): ‘Because you have done this…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed (JESUS); He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.’” Genesis 3:14-16; Matthew 18:10-11; 26:3646; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 3:12-21; Revelation 13:8

 

So the devil understood what JESUS’ crucifixion meant and he was trying to stop it not cause it!