The following excerpt is taken from What Every Christian Should Know About Satan. Order your copy in print, Kindle, or Audible versions here.

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In the previous post, we explored Jesus’ words in John 12:31 as he refers to Satan as “the ruler of this world.” Moving on to John 14, Jesus calls Satan “the ruler of the world.” The Savior tells his disciples:

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me. Get up; let’s leave this place” (John 14:27-31, emphasis added). 

Jesus’ followers are troubled because he has repeatedly announced his imminent departure (John 14:2-4, 12, 18-19). They are worried, despite the Lord’s assurances they will do even greater works than he has done. He promises to answer their prayers and send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with them and in them (vv. 12-17). Jesus also pledges to bequeath them peace – not a hollow worldly peace but an enduring one. 

Indeed, the world is powerless to give peace because sinful and fallen people are unable to overcome their own pride, greed, hatred, malice, and fear. But the transcendent peace Jesus promises comes through his pending death, in which he absorbs the sins of mankind and introduces the promised messianic peace in a way no one thought possible. 

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