John 14:28-31 CSB
You have heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. [29] I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. [30] I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. [31] On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me. "Get up; let's leave this place.
Philippians 2:5-8 CSB
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. [7] Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death- even to death on a cross.
Find Nothing in Me
It is hard to talk to someone when you know that their end of life is near. What do you say to the one who is making that final journey, and what does the person who is about to see Jesus say to those close to them? We should live life where we never forget to tell those around us that we love them and to express this love clearly. Jesus knows that He has a trial coming, but instead of receding into self-reflection, He is easing the pain of His followers. He is telling them that they should rejoice—just as we should rejoice when a believer goes to see the Lord.
Because He was leaving, it was vital that they knew exactly who He was. This is the heart of our belief, captured in the original Nicene Creed from 325 AD. Many churches still say it today to anchor their faith:
I believe in one God… and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God… God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father… who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man.
This is our bedrock. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, of one essence with the Father. He is God, but out of His love for us, He was made like us. He became human so that He could not only feel the things we do and go through the trials of life, but so that He could also be tempted with the same trials that we face. Jesus understands us. Because He was made like us, we have a perfect High Priest to intercede with the Father on our behalf.
Satan is the ruler of this world, and when we look at the pain that sin causes, it is understandable. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Any weakness found in a believer will be exploited to ruin their testimony and their walk. But Jesus said plainly, “Satan has no power over me.” He is free of any sin that the evil one might try to use against Him. Jesus stood the test that we could not. He walked the earth without sin and became the sinless sacrificial lamb for us. What love is this?
The final test for Jesus was the cross. He says to the Apostles, “Get up; let’s leave this place.” It is time to follow the Father’s will for His life. Although Jesus is equal to the Father, He humbled Himself to do the Father’s will. He did not exploit His status of equality with the Father but instead took on the form of a servant. How much more should we humble ourselves and trust in the One who stood the test for us?
Reflection Questions
- Jesus said the ruler of the world had no power over Him because there was no sin for the enemy to exploit. How does it change your confidence in prayer to know that your High Priest is the only one who ever looked Satan in the eye and could say, “You have nothing on me”?
- When the “ruler of this world” tries to bring up your past mistakes to make you feel unworthy, how does it change your internal peace to know that God sees you through the lens of Jesus’ perfect record? How can you practically rely on His sinlessness instead of your own performance today?
- Philippians 2 shows that Jesus, though equal to God, chose the form of a servant. In your current trials or relationships, where are you fighting for your “rights” when God might be calling you to find your power in “humility”?
Prayer
Father,
I thank You for the mystery of the Incarnation—that You loved us enough to become one of us and face the “ruler of this world” on our behalf. I confess that I often feel like You are far away, but Your Word reminds me that You have shared in my humanity and felt my pain. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the sinless Lamb who stood the test so that I could be set free. Help me to “get up” and follow You today, trusting that Your Kingdom is my true and final home.
Amen.
