'Last Sermon of Jesus'
John 14:30 "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."
Our Lord Jesus said that He is not bothered with Satan, even though He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.
Mat 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Our Lord Jesus was more concerned with the carnal people (easily led by Satan) around Him, who tried to discourage and destroy Him. Some of these are:-
Peter His Disciple
Mat 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, " Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Peter was with the Lord all the time and had witnessed His powers in healing the sick, walking on water, raising the death, His relationship with the Father, His knowledge of the Scriptures and His great wisdom in silencing the Pharisees. Yet, when our Lord told His disciples that He must suffer and be killed, Peter objected to it. Peter, then in the flesh was led by Satan to admonish Him for such stupidity. Similarly, carnal and unlearned Christians (led by Satan) will judge all unpleasant situations or sufferings as evil and sinful - as the punishments of God or attacks of the devil. Beware of advice, comments, judgments, teachings and prophecies of carnal and worldly brethren and pastors.
1 Pet 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
His Worldly Disciples
John 6:61, 66 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?..From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more"
Brethren, just as many disciples of our Lord Jesus rejected the truth, ours too will also reject the truth, and some may even persecute us.
2 Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
Covetous Spiritual Leaders
Luke 16:13-15 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
Our Lord admonished the spiritual leaders as hypocrites in Mat 23. Similarly, covetous and depraved pastors and church leaders will always persecute Bible believing Christians and unless they repent they will have to face His wrath.
