The ABC's of the Bible- Satan: The Insanity of Lucifer

Satan is not someone with whom Christians should have anything to do (Jude 9). There are many things which I could emphasize when talking about Satan from the Bible. However, because this is holy week I will emphasize the triumph of Christ over him.

I have referenced John Piper's book Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ several times but I think the book makes a good point as we approach the celebration of the resurrection and and the topic of Satan at the same time.

The question Piper wants to answer is "why Satan would lead Judas to betray Jesus. Didn’t he know that the death and resurrection of Jesus would result in his final defeat (Col. 2:13–15; Rev. 12:11)?" (page 100).

Piper's answer:

Satan saw that his efforts to divert Jesus from the cross had failed. Time after time Jesus kept the course. His face was set like flint to die (Luke 9:51, 53), and Satan concluded that there was
no stopping him. Therefore, he resolved that if he couldn’t stop it, he would at least make it as ugly and painful and as heartbreaking as possible. Not just death, but death by betrayal. Death by abandonment. Death by denial (Luke 22:31–34). Death by torture. If he could not stop it, he would drag others into it and do as much damage as he could. (page 101)

The subtitle of this post is taken from the title of Chapter 5 of R.C. Sproul's wonderful book The Holiness of God, "The Insanity of Luther" and so I cannot end this post without quoting from Luther's hymn on the topic at hand.

The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him. (A Mighty Fortress is Our God)

Grace and Peace,
Stephen