22nd July 2022
Disarmed, disgraced, defeated, destroyed
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
As Jesus breathed out his last painful minutes on the cross, to his enemies as well as his supporters it must have looked like he had lost the battle. Rome and the ruling religious authorities had triumphed. Jesus had suffered a crushing, painful and humiliating defeat. His final words seemed to sum up the whole, sorry story – ‘It is finished.’
But here in Paul’s letter to the Colossians we learn that nothing could be further from the truth. In one fell swoop, Jesus’ opponents – and the spiritual powers behind them – are disarmed, disgraced, defeated and destroyed.
Disarmed: Paul uses military terminology to hammer his point home. The word translated ‘disarmed’ here means that Jesus has literally spoiled or plundered the enemy, Satan and his legions of fallen angels, removing their weapons as a victorious army might do to a conquered nation.
Disgraced: In Roman times, following a successful military campaign, a victorious General would march through the streets of Rome, his conquered enemies bringing up the rear, locked in shackles, heads hanging low in humiliation. This, Paul says, is what has happened to the enemies of Christ.
Defeated: In one fell swoop, the prophetic message in Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled as Christ crushed Satan’s head with the cross. And this unilateral triumph over the ‘prince of darkness’ wasn’t done in secret, it took place in front of the whole creation, for all to see and marvel at.
Destroyed: ‘…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…’ (Hebrews 2:14 NKJV). We need have no fear of the enemy, thanks to Jesus. In fact, James 4:7 simply states, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (NIV).
Jesus has done everything necessary for us to have confidence that our salvation is sure and certain. As 1 John 4:4 puts it: ‘You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.’ (NIV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you that because of your beloved Son’s victory on the cross, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Study by Peter Mill
About the writer:
Peter Mill is a Minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland and Northern England.
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh – Edinburgh has a zoom service at the moment. For details email the local congregational contact below.
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church