Are you a victor or are you a victim? Your answer will reflect whether or not you understand what really took place when Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead — and to the extent that he defeated Satan, there and then. Speaking to the serpent, God said: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 & John 8:44)
This prophecy, the first in the Bible, was included in God’s curse on the serpent after Adam had sinned. It was fulfilled at the Cross when Jesus crushed Satan’s authority at the expense or his own life. A man who crushes the head of a snake with his bare heel does so at his own peril. Christ’s humanity made him vulnerable to Satan.
After crushing Satan’s authority over us, Jesus conquered Death itself by rising from the tomb. Jesus had said, “Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31) The repeated “now” tells us that these things were imminent at the time. Jesus was about to “bind the strong man” and plunder his property. “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (Mark 3:27)
“When a strong man, armed, guards his palace, his goods are safe. But when a stronger man encounters him and overcomes him, he strips him of the armour in which he trusted, and distributes his goods.” (Luke 11:21, 22)
Satan’s “house” was secure. His “goods” — those who were his property — were “in peace” — unaware of their parlous spiritual state. The “stronger man” was Jesus, who was more than a match for Satan.
After conquering the Devil at the Cross, Jesus stripped him of the “armour” in which he trusted — his protective confidence — and has since shared the spoils with those strong enough to join in “the good fight of faith” (Isaiah 53:12).
“After he “spoiled” rulers and authorities, he displayed them openly as his triumph at the Cross.” Jesus is victorious, and so are you in him! So don’t let anyone victimize you! Don’t be any devil’s doormat!