The Devil’s Defeat

The Devil’s Defeat

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

Hebrews 2:14

He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

Colossians 1:13

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10

Have you ever been playing a card game or some other game, confident you are winning, only to find out someone else has a trump card or a secret play that makes him or her the winner?

When Jesus was on the cross, the devil thought he was winning. He thought that if he could kill Jesus, that would be the end, and he would be victorious. But it was a terrible miscalculation on the devil’s part. He didn’t realize that in orchestrating the evil that would bring Jesus to the Cross, he was bringing defeat on himself.

What was Jesus’ secret winning play? Colossians 2:14-15 describes it this way: “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Jesus disarmed the devil. He took away the weapon of death from the devil’s hand. And while the devil is still active in this world, the day is coming when his defeat, which is already certain, will be complete. One day Jesus will not only defeat the devil for good—he will destroy the devil for good.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What does it mean to disarm an opponent?

How does Jesus’ death fulfill God’s words to the serpent in Genesis 3:15: “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel”?

What does it mean that the devil is defeated—for today and for the future?