Written in Heaven
And he [Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20 ESV) Even as the 72 returned to Jesus to share with Him all that they had done in His Name, He called them to rejoice in the best news of all – how their names were written in Heaven and the implication of that good news for their lives and ours. Today at International Lutheran Church, as we celebrate the Feast of Michael and All Angels, we too rejoice in our Lord’s victory and its real and daily significance for our lives.
The Holy Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, present to us a united picture in prophetic prose concerning the reality of the unseen and yet very real events of the Heavenly struggle going on around us (2 Kings 5:15-17) and what this means for us. As we reflect on Daniel and John’s vision of the defeat of our ancient foe – the beguiling serpent of Genesis 3, Jesus’ vision and His words help to strengthen our faith in Jesus who has overcome our enemy and already won for us the victory through His death and resurrection.
First we should consider that Jesus’ words to the 72 come after they returned from their itinerant mission in His name. He had sent them out, two-by-two with no extra provisions, to all the towns and villages that He would go. This was not a sightseeing trip, but rather a mission to herald the good news of His coming. In spite of the lack of workers, Jesus sees the urgency of the task and sends them – like sheep among wolves even. This angelic task of the harvest and heralding the good news is the very name that God gives to the spiritual creatures (angels) that He had created to bring glad tidings. As ministering spirits they serve not their own will be Him who sends them. Similarly, the disciples themselves also function in this way. So as they returned to share with Jesus all that they had seen and done in His name, the one thing that surprised them was the authority they wielded over the demons and unclean spirits.
Here Jesus shares with them His own vision of Michael’s victory over Satan. This is the same vision of Daniel 10 & 12 and Revelation 12:7-12. The point that Jesus’ words bring us is the very good news that Satan is cast out. No longer can He accuse us. But this is just half the story or message and not even the amazing part.
Now, both Daniel and John, men of God and devoted to prayer were witnesses of this heavenly struggle. Yet Jesus’ own vision of the Heavenly battle of how Michael and his companions had defeated Satan, is connected to His own authority and reason for His coming, the very reason Jesus sends out the 72. Our lives are not the result of random events, but rather linked to Jesus’ own mission, how with His own Blood He would write our Names into God’s Book of Life and remove the guilt and shame of our sin, by His death and resurrection. In this way, Michael and the angelic victory over our ancient foe is not the result of might or force, but of God’s own Son, Jesus, laying down His life for us on the cross. This then is the power of our testimony that we are redeemed children of God forgiven in Jesus and made victorious in Him.
For us, this message is a critical counterbalance to the chaos of our own times and the fear and confusion that Satan, our flesh and the world are always trying to sow into our hearts and minds concerning our sin and our powerless position. Satan’s goal from the beginning has been for us to doubt the one thing that gives us hope and joy – God’s own word and promise. He has not changed his method of deception, but continues to rely on half-truths and misleading statements.
It is into this scene that we are called to share the message of Jesus’ victory over Satan with all our family, friends, coworkers and even strangers. God in Christ has achieved the victory over our sin and death and set us free to live a new life in Him. As we live in the chaos and confusion of our day, we also share this good news and remind all that Jesus is our victory over all of Satan’s lies. God bless you as you share this good news with others.
Pastor Carl