Serving God’s Purpose – Greg Laurie Devotion – April 3, 2026

Biblical Context

The Gospel of Luke offers a carefully researched account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. It’s written by Luke, a Gentile doctor and a close companion of the Apostle Paul. His writing style is organized, and he pays close attention to historical detail, often making his Gospel feel like a careful record. Luke often emphasizes Jesus’ humanity, His prayer life, and His compassion for the poor, the outcast, and women. He presents Jesus as the Savior for all people, a universal Messiah. This particular passage comes from the Garden of Gethsemane, a moment of intense spiritual struggle and impending betrayal for Jesus, as Luke records the events leading up to the crucifixion with a physician’s eye for detail and a disciple’s heart for truth.

Key Word Study

The word we’re focusing on from Luke 22:53 is darkness. In the Greek, this word is skotos (σκότος). It means more than just the absence of light. In a biblical sense, skotos often refers to moral depravity, spiritual blindness, confusion, and the evil that goes against God’s holy nature. When Jesus says, “this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns,” He’s not just talking about the lack of sunlight. He’s speaking of the moment when evil forces seem to have their way, when wicked plans are carried out, and when the spiritual influence of the enemy is allowed to openly operate. It points to a period when humanity’s sinful nature, manipulated by evil, is at its most apparent and aggressive against God’s Son.

The Maddening Moment in Gethsemane

Can you imagine the scene? One of the most maddening moments in the Garden of Gethsemane happened when Jesus’ enemies finally showed up to arrest Him. It must have felt like a punch to the gut. Leading the way was Judas Iscariot, the very disciple who had walked with Jesus, learned from Him, and now, betrayed the Lord. Luke 22:47 tells us exactly how it went down: “Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss” (nlt). A kiss, a sign of affection and loyalty, used as a signal for betrayal. It’s almost unbelievable.

Why Judas? A Question of Motivation

When you read that, you just have to ask, “Why?” Judas Iscariot had spent three full years following Jesus. He sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to the Lord’s teachings. He saw miracle after miracle happen right in front of his eyes. He watched Jesus bravely expose the lies and self-righteousness of the very people he conspired with to betray Him. So, why did Judas do it? It doesn’t seem to make any sense. The closest we get to an explanation in Scripture is in Luke 22:3, which says, “Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot” (nlt). This verse doesn’t fully explain all the human motivations, but it does point to a deep spiritual influence at play.

Why Does God Allow Satan to Exist?

But that explanation for Judas’s actions only leads you to another big question: Why does God allow Satan to exist? You’ve probably thought about it. In Job 1:7, Satan himself says, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on” (nlt). He isn’t just a bystander, is he? He’s not passively observing. He’s actively looking for trouble. He’s looking for lives to ruin. He’s looking for saints to stumble. He’s a destroyer. So, why does God allow him to carry on? Why doesn’t the Lord just take him out, as He could in a nanosecond? It’s a question that many of us grapple with.

Satan’s Unwitting Role in God’s Plan

You might be surprised to learn that Satan, in his own twisted way, serves the purposes of God. Think about it. He unknowingly played a really big part in the cross of Christ. In his never-ending hatred for God’s Son, Satan probably thought it would be a great idea to have Jesus betrayed, arrested, beaten within an inch of His life, and then crucified and put to death on a Roman cross. From a human perspective, and even from Satan’s limited viewpoint, it looked like a win for evil.

The Power of Darkness and God’s Reign

Everything went according to what Satan planned. As Jesus told the mob who came to apprehend Him, “But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53 nlt). The power of darkness did indeed reign that day; it felt like evil had triumphed, and Satan’s plan succeeded in bringing about Jesus’ suffering and death. But what the evil one didn’t realize was that it was God’s plan all along that the Messiah would die for the sins of the world. In the prophecy of Isaiah, we’re told, “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isaiah 53:10 niv). God was in control, even when it felt like everything was falling apart.

Satan’s Biggest Blunder Became Our Greatest Hope

Satan was completely unaware that he was making the biggest blunder since his rebellion against God. In his rage and hatred, he played right into the plan and purpose of God when he prompted Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12–13). Satan’s “best shot” against God and the people of God was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And in that very act, he not only unknowingly sealed his own doom, but he also opened the door for Jesus to offer redemption and salvation to the whole world. What Satan intended for harm, God used for ultimate good.

God’s Purpose in Your Dark Times

So, remember this: if you hold on to God and trust Him through the dark times, Satan’s best shots against you also will end up working for your good—and God’s glory. It’s a tough truth to live by, but it’s a powerful one. Even when you’re going through something difficult, even when it feels like everything is against you, God is still at work. He’s able to take the plans of the enemy and twist them, shaping them into something that ultimately serves His purpose and brings about good for you. You don’t have to understand it all, but you can trust Him through it all.