A Defeated enemy
And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.
- Colossians 2:15
Today's devotion comes from our
Decade of Dominion: 52 Week Devotional.
This Scripture is a reference to a Roman custom that would occur when a Roman general returned from a victorious battle somewhere in the far-flung expanse of the empire. He would be given the honor of a parade through the capital city, riding an elaborately decorated chariot, with the spoils of war following behind him, including those he had overcome in battle. Enemy officials were chained and subjected to scorn as the procession went through the city, surrounded by throngs of Romans who would cheer the conquering general and jeer at the humiliated captives. The parade was intended to project the aura of invincibility of imperial Rome, and show every adversary the futility of opposing the Roman legions.
Here, the apostle Paul is telling us of the genius of God’s plan to overcome sin and death with righteousness and life. Jesus died on the cross, and the devil rejoiced when He was buried in that borrowed tomb. The tomb was sealed and a guard was set in place. It was impossible for anyone to steal the body of Jesus in order to start some rumor that He had been resurrected. The devil thought that he had surely won the chess match of the ages. In his darkened mind, he was certain that the Savior of the world had been defeated. Death had triumphed. Darkness would reign over the hearts of men forever.
But like a cub reporter who was trying to get the scoop on some news item, the devil wrote his story too soon. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, before it was dawn, there was a rumbling in the halls of perdition. The Spirit of God invaded the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and raised to life again the three-day-dead body of the Prince of God.
Jesus waded through the ashes of bygone millennia, lifted the gates of hell off their rusty hinges, and threw them to one side. He walked up to the throne of skulls and bones upon which sat the adversary of your soul, and snatched the keys of death, hell, and the grave out of the unyielding hands of the devil. He cast Satan off his throne, raised His hands to the Father, and said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End; the One who was, and is, and is to come, and I have conquered death!”
And so began a procession in the spiritual realm that resulted in captivity being led captive, and every enemy and adversary being exposed as the defeated foes they really are. The cross, which the devil had devised as a place of Jesus’ defeat, became the very means by which Satan himself was defeated for all time.
Every one of your enemies has been defeated by the Savior, the conquering King, the Lord Jesus Christ. You don’t have to be afraid any longer—Satan no longer has authority over you as a Christian. He is a defeated foe!
Lord, Jesus, today is Your day, and I want Your will to be done. So, whatever happens, you are still on the throne, and you reign and rule in my life! Hold my hand, and let me, conqueror, it all with you. Amen.
Further Reading
- Luke 21:26
- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
- Romans 8:37
