Hell Hath No Fury

Hell Hath No Fury
Words of Faith 4-19-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 15
[25] It was the third hour when they crucified him. [26] The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews. [27] They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. [29] Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, [30] come down from the cross and save yourself!"

[31] In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! [32] Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Have you ever noticed that the point of the jeers and insults that Jesus endured on the cross actually pointed out His power?
"Come down and save yourself!"
You see, that is the point. He who saves his life will lose it. He who loses his life for God will save it. Jesus' power is that He embodies that Kingdom concept.
"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe."
See and believe what? That God Almighty incarnate can be as self-serving as the pagan gods? No, that was not the point. But how tempting it must have been to prove them all wrong.
"Can't save himself?" Excuse me? The truth was that humans were incapable of saving themselves, no matter how hard they tried with religious rituals and excruciating legalism.
Really. "Can't save himself?" Pardon me, but which legion of angels would you like to face first? There were twelve legions (12,000) on standby, according to Matthew 26:53. You can bet that these were not the frilly angels. These were the types you did not want to meet on a battlefield.
These legions of angels would make the great armies of Rome cower and run. These legions battled ahead of Joshua in the Promised Land and routed the Amalekites. These legions would make our modern battleships, cruise missiles, apache helicopters, and drone strikes look like toys. These legions had driven the rebellious Lucifer himself out of heaven. Hell, literally, hath no fury even close to these angels.
Our earthly warfare is but a mere skirmish by comparison. These were the big guns with power beyond our wildest imagination standing at the ready such that in the blink of their Commander's eye, the arrogant taunters could have become a wisp of vapor barely remembered. These were seasoned troops, ages old, who, along with their Commander, saw Satan fall like lightning (Luke 10:18). Frankly, they are not the type you want to taunt. Fortunately, they held back, watching only for the cue of the Commander.
And what was the cue of the Commander? He was fighting a different battle in a different sort of way. It was a battle that would not be won by obliterating the arrogant humans or the demons themselves. This battle would not be won in a fiery exchange but in obedient surrender. And so with every cry and groan of the Commander, as the legions looked on bound by His restraint, and as the arrogant humans jeered, the Enemy was kicked, pummeled, and slashed by the one weapon he could not endure-- love. Pure, unadulterated, self-sacrificing love. Love poured out as never before and never since. Hell hath no fury like this love of God.
In case you don't know it, the Enemy lost that day-- not by the cataclysmic clash of the angels but by the obedience of the Savior. Yes, there are a few prisoners of war still in need of liberation. But the Enemy was dealt mortal wounds by the love of God, and humanity was won for eternity if only they would receive the victory.
The time is coming sooner than we know when every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. His terms are unconditional. There is no room for negotiation of terms. We are called to unconditional surrender to Him so that we may be repatriated to the promise He has always wanted for us.

Lord, I surrender to You. Forgive my arrogance. I will never doubt what you CAN do. I will only seek after what You choose to do. Repatriate me to Your loving promise. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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