Jesus said, "NOW the ruler of this world is cast out." When Jesus said this to his disciples they must have had hope stirred inside of them. I know this excites me! But we have to go to the Old Covenant account in Numbers 21 to have a really good understanding of what Jesus meant in the Gospel account in John 12.
Numbers 21
The Israelites were pretty tired of life in the wilderness. They complained about what they didn’t have rather than being thankful for everything the Lord miraculously provided.
They complained and accused the Lord of sending them to the wilderness to die. So snakes were allowed to bite them and many of the people died. To me this is evidence that our words are powerful. They accused God of killing them…then God sent the snakes like an answer to a faith-filled prayer.
Well, they cried out to Moses and admitted they were sinful and needed to be saved from the snakes their very words brought upon them. God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it upon a pole and when the people looked up at the snake then they were saved (healed).
This may seem like a very odd account but keep in mind that the snake on the pole was lifted up. Who said he would be lifted up? Jesus said this in John 12.
He told his disciples that NOW is the judgment of the world and NOW the ruler of the world shall be cast out. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up out of the earth, (just like that snake on the pole) will draw all to me." (Darby Translation) Jesus drew all the judgment and all the shame so we would go free--we are saved from the curse.
We have to acknowledge that the One who knew no sin became sin for us. Like the snake was cursed so Christ took all of the curse for us so we experience NONE of the curse. AMEN!!! THAT IS GOOD NEWS!
My favorite part is NOW the ruler of the world will be cast out. We really need to chew on this. If the devil is coming to steal, kill and destroy in your life and your family who gave him permission? Did God give him permission? No, it says in John 12 that NOW the ruler of the world shall be cast out. So maybe just like the Israelites in the wilderness we underestimate how powerful our words of confession are in this world. We were given authority and the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matt 16:19) Are we sick and weak and dying because of a lack of understanding? (Q: My people perish for a lack of what?A: Knowledge) Hosea 4:6
Maybe just like the Israelites we are confessing what we lack rather than acknowledging that IN CHRIST we have everything we need for life and godliness.
