"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die." John 12:31-33 (Read v. 27-43)
How is Jesus' death on the cross the judgment of this world? And how is it connected to the prince of this world being cast out? We find the answer in God's Word, the Bible.
To understand, we must consider what happened in Genesis 3. The serpent deceived Eve, and Adam and Eve disobeyed God's commandment and brought sin and the curse and condemnation of sin into this world. Satan used God's good law to bring about God's curse upon man and all creation. As a result of Adam's sin, all are conceived and born in sin and guilty before God and under the condemnation of His holy commandment (Gen. 1:16-17; Psalm 51:5; Rom. 5:12).
Jesus, by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross, suffered the curse of God's law for us (cf. Gal. 3:10,13). He undid the damning work of the devil by making atonement for the sins of all that through faith in his name we might have pardon, forgiveness and life everlasting instead of death and eternal condemnation (cf. Heb. 2:14-17).
The devil, also called the accuser of the brethren, was cast out of heaven -- he can no longer accuse us before God because our sins were judged and atonement made on Jesus' cross (cf. Rev. 12:7-11).
This world, too, is judged by Jesus' death on the cross. Since Christ died for sin and atonement has been made, all those who refuse to repent and believe in the promised Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15), Jesus the Messiah and Savior, stand condemned for their unbelief (cf. 1 Pet. 3:18-20).
And the same holds true for people today. Those who hear the Word of God and repent, placing their faith and hope in Jesus and His cross, are saved. They have pardon and forgiveness for all their sins, and they have eternal life in God's kingdom.
But those who neglect and refuse to heed God's Word stand condemned for not believing in the name of Christ Jesus, God's only-begotten Son come into this world to redeem us from sin and death. It is as Jesus said, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18; cf. v. 36; John 12:47ff.).
O dearest Jesus, grant that I hear Your word, acknowledge my sin and guilt and look to You and Your cross for forgiveness and life everlasting. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible]
Editorial on 03/28/2018