June 9, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Plot to Betray and Kill Jesus
Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
What is about to happen between this chapter and the end of the book of Luke is already known and planned by God. Jesus was supposed to and did become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and you.
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
The chief priest (the religious leaders today they would be priests in catholic, lutheran and others churches of like manner) and scribes, began to hatch their plan to take Jesus and kill him. They had to do this dastardly deed in stealth because they feared what the people would do, for the people followed Jesus. Do you follow Jesus or do you follow a religion?
Isn’t that just the way it is? People will do their worst in plot, and ploy, and darkness, and stealth so they can hide from the light and truth and openness. They plan and sneak and plot and execute their plan to rid themselves of the truth, Jesus is the truth.
Psalm 41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
Psalm 54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
We know they delivered Jesus for envy. They envied Him because the people, that they thought they had control over, followed Jesus instead. They envied His success.
Mark 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
The plot thickens as we see the real culprit in this scenario, Satan. His plan is to take the place of Jesus and be worshipped by the world. (Read Revelation 13) He hates Jesus.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Luke 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Jesus knew Judas was going to be possessed of Satan. John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Satan will use anyone who is not truly born again. If you are not born-again, maybe just calling yourself a Christian, or attending some religious organization, having never known Christ or are know of Christ, you are open to Satan’s will. He can use you anytime he wants. You have no protection.
No born-again believer can ever be possessed of the devil. The born-again believer is safe in the arms of Jesus.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Are you born-again; are you safe in Jesus? Do you know you are saved and have a home in heaven with Jesus?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
