Seeking Jesus First Mar. 5, 2025
What we get through betrayal, we will lose through justice.
God created Adam and gave him dominion in the earth. Through deception, the devil tricked Adam into betraying God’s trust. This betrayal resulted in the transfer of dominion.
“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”” (Luke 4:5–8, NKJV)
The devil claimed ownership of the kingdoms of the world. The devil said that the kingdoms were ‘delivered’ to him. ‘Delivered’ means to betray, to hand over, to give. The devil’s claim was based upon Adam’s betrayal which was the result of deception. How many stories and books are written around this premise?
Setting this right takes justice. Someone has to come along with a rightful claim and the ability to enforce their claim. When Jesus came, He had a legal claim because he was a descendant of Adam, Abraham and David, who each had covenants with GOD. He was also the son of God which gave Him an even deeper legal claim because He was the original owner and the one who was betrayed.
Jesus came to bring justice and set things aright. “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” (John 5:26–27, NKJV) “And when He (Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8–11, NKJV) And after His resurrection, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18, NKJV)
Jesus has judged the devil, paid the penalty for Adam’s betrayal, and taken authority back and He has shared it with those who believe in and follow Him.