April 6, 2021
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13 NIV)
What is an opportune time? This phrase got my attention as I was reading Mark 6:14-29 this morning. This section of scripture gives the account of how and why Herod the Tetrarch had John the Baptist executed. John had confronted Herod about the fact that he had enticed his brother’s wife, Herodias, to leave him and to marry Herod. Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but Herod knew John was a righteous man and protected him. But finally, the opportune time came.
Again, I ask what is an opportune time? The Greek word that is translated as “opportune time” is eukairos. The word means well timed, or an opportunity that is presented at just the right time. Whether the opportunity is presented for good or evil depends upon the source of the opportunity. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Satan – the devil, hates God and people, because they are made in the image of God. He is constantly looking for the opportune time to do his work which always is to kill, steal and destroy. Sadly, he will often use other people as the instruments to carry out his work.
This is what happened with Herod. During a great party to celebrate his birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced for Herod and his guests. The scripture does not tell us the nature of the dance, but the response of Herod and his guests leads me to think it was meant to be sexually enticing. Herod was so pleased with her dancing, that he offered to give her almost anything she would ask for. The opportune time, present by Satan himself, came when the daughter went to ask her mother’s advice, on what to ask Herod for, as her reward for pleasing him and his guests. Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. This request greatly distressed Herod, but to save face in front of his guests, he gave orders for John to be executed. This story ends with the gruesome scene of Herodias’ daughter proudly presenting John’s head to her mother.
This Greek word, eukarios, translated as opportune time, is used only two times in the New Testament. The first instance is the story of the death of John the Baptist and the second instance is about Jesus. Hebrews 4:14-16 states, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” The phrase “time of need” is the second instance of the use of eukarios. In other words, Jesus creates an opportune time for us to receive mercy and grace, whenever we are faced with a temptation from Satan.
Sadly, I can remember many times in my life when I was presented with an opportune time of temptation but did not understand or care that Jesus was offering me his own opportune time of mercy and grace as a way of escape. I know that I am forgiven, but I still grieve over what I did and the damage it did to my own soul and to others. Remember, the opportune times presented by Satan are always to accomplish his work to kill, steal and destroy. The opportune time offered by Jesus is so that we can receive his life in our time of need.
Please join with me in confidently approaching God’s throne of grace at the opportune time, that he is always offering, so that we may receive mercy and grace whenever and wherever we are presented with Satan’s opportune time of temptation.
Blessings,
Kevin