Monday, February 27, 2023

Power without Authority

 Power without Authority vs Authority over Power

Key Verse - Luke 10:19, Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

authority - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions
ἐξουσίαν (exousian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence

power - and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
δύναμιν (dynamin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power

The Premise

 from a social media post—
 "I feel like all Christians know the verses of Matthew 4:8-10, but very few seem to understand the implications when debating atheists about evil in this world. Jesus is literally admitting that Satan has the power to give him those things in this world. We are living in a fallen world and this is the why evil exists and sometimes flourishes. But what we also know from this verse is that Satan rightly feared the power Jesus would bring into this fallen world, hence tempting Him, and therein is where our hope and faith resides." 


"Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
At this, Jesus said to him,
"Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve."




The Reply 

We have a minor theological difference. I label it 'minor' because it does not directly affect personal salvation, but it is a different worldview.
re: Jesus is literally admitting that Satan has the power to give him those things in this world.

Jesus is not challenging Satan. "Not challenging" is different than "admitting Satan has the power." Satan was not created with that power, nor was that power ever given to him by God. Satan stole the authority from Adam by lying to his wife. Adam was created for and given dominion over those things in this world, but now Satan had control, although it was obtained by fraud and not legitimate.

During Jesus' temptation, it is quite possible that Jesus fully realizes that he is Satan's Creator—which gives the entire scene an aura of surrealism. At this point, Jesus is (figuratively) playing inter-dimensional chess. He cannot do or say anything that would tip Satan off about the plan of redemption.
The main clue and reason that I hold to this view comes from 1 Corinthians 2:7&8, "..we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
I contend that Satan was not only tempting Jesus in the wilderness, but also collecting intelligence data about Him. Satan had suspected that Jesus was the Messiah previously, and that had been fairly well confirmed when the Holy Spirit showed up "like a dove" at His baptism with a thunderous voice from His heavenly Father announcing that He is well pleased with Jesus. So Satan knew there were prophecies that Jesus "will crush his head," Gen 3:15, however, Satan had not figured out that he was talking to the Creator who preexisted time. A chief reason why Jesus didn't contest Satan's power too strenuously was because Jesus knew that Satan would have to kill him, and he didn't want the 'ruler of this age' to figure out that crucifixion was part of the plan. He had to play it cool and stick to scripture, all nice and legal. 

Why It Matters

Satan had control that was obtained by fraud. This is replaying in America, February 2023: Control obtained by fraud.  Jesus did not challenge Satan's illegitimate power at this point because Jesus intended to reclaim it, remove it from Satan, and redeem it for mankind.  In a parallel spiritual season it behooves us to be sensitive to  the proper timing. Satan's temptations offered Jesus shortcuts to his mission—a shortcut to regaining all the kingdoms of the world, but with puppet stings attached. But Jesus allowed Satan to set his own trap, just as Haman had unwittingly built his own gallows several centuries earlier.

In 2023, both in the US and globally, traps are being built and gallows are being erected by those who have illegitimately acquired control. Yes, they have power, but their authority is fraudulent. History is cycling again. 

Psalm 5:10 -  Hold them guilty, O God; By their own designs and councils let them fall! In the abundance of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You.