Look Out
Jesus’ main opponents were the religious and their leaders. Even among his inner group of 12 was the one who betrayed him to his crucifiers with a demonstration of love. Satan was alive and well and operating among the religious, their leaders, and even among his inner circle of followers.
Makes you wonder how Satan is working today.
The Religious leaders, then should have been the ones to recognize who Jesus was and support him. However, He threatened their self-serving brand of religion, and rather than change for God in the Flesh, they killed him. They had positions of prestige and power that he threatened.
Judas, on the other han,d did not have as open agenda as they did. He seems to have never clarified his reasons for betrayal. But he did it. I suppose that act shows the complexity of following Jesus.
Jesus had enemies who identified with his group and religious people who opposed His Kingdom style of relating to God and the world.
We should not be surprised today when we see confusion and turmoil in the church, religion, and the world.
It seems as if Satan is working in opposition to what Jesus is doing in all those areas.
Pray for discernment! Make sure you are on the right path, operating on Kingdom values rather than religious values, church values, or cultural values.