Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Feb 22, 2024 - Jesus Wins”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsJesus Wins
Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8
Paul is explaining to the Thessalonians that certain events must occur before “the day of the Lord”(2 Thess 2:2) comes. The key development seems to be the “rebellion”(or “apostasy,” 2 Thess 2:3) led by “the son of destruction.” “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time”(2 Thess 2:5-6). This is our reminder that we are reading someone else’s mail; we were not there for the teaching Paul refers to. It is also unclear to us what (or who) is restraining or preventing the appearance of this awful figure.
But Paul seems to expect these developments imminently: “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way”(2 Thess 2:7). These things are happening at the time of Paul’s writing (“already at work”). How and when they will be fully exposed is part of the “mystery of lawlessness,” but it appears to be soon. “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming”(2 Thess 2:8). Even as the “man of lawlessness” makes his power play (see v. 4), Paul assures us that Jesus will kill, defeat, and destroy him. Though we may wrestle with the exact historical referents of these words, we can remain confident that Jesus wins.
This text raises all kinds of questions for me. Who is Paul thinking of and how does he know all this? Has the “man of lawlessness” already appeared (and been defeated)? Do we still wait for him? Does a figure like this appear in every age? Yet Paul’s letter seems clearly aimed not at answering all our questions, but at reminding us that even when things look grim, God will defeat his enemies and rescue his people. In all eras, his people live in less-than-ideal circumstances, often beset by evil, egomaniacal rulers. Jesus will humble those exalt themselves, judge the world, and save his people. Jesus wins.
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One Thing to Think About: Why has God chosen not to reveal to us when Jesus will return?
One Thing to Pray For: The patience to wait for God to act in his time
