Genesis 3:14-15/ Jesus Came to Crush the Enemy

Every Christmas we share and sing beautiful realities surrounding Jesus' entrance into the world. Phrases like "joy to the world," "peace on earth," and "good tidings of great joy" are rightly shared among all who celebrate Christmas because Jesus' coming warrants that sentiment! But everything we gain in Jesus was secured in part because He came to crush the enemy. 

 Jesus is a warrior King, but not in the way the Jews expected their Messiah to be. His crosshairs were not set on the Romans—instead they were set on the great enemy of our souls, Satan. The Gospel is first presented in Genesis 3 after Satan had deceived Adam and Eve into sinning against God. Here is how God cursed Satan for his crafty work:

“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, 
and between your offspring and her offspring; 
he shall bruise your head, 
and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15

 God condemned Satan to a shameful existence—the lowest of all creation—and promised his head would one day be bruised by the woman's offspring. "Offspring" refers to Jesus and "bruise" here means, "to crush with violence." That is not a phrase you hear celebrated much at Christmas: "Jesus crushed Satan's head with violence." It would definitely make for an awkward conversation at the company Christmas party! However, this reality is central to why we have joy, peace, and the Good News of the Gospel. But how did Jesus do this?

 In Genesis 3 it was a promise from God, but by Colossians 2 it was fulfilled in Jesus:

 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Colossians 2:13-15

 Jesus took our sins on the cross, canceling our debts and claiming victory over Satan in the process. The greatest asset Satan had was to accuse us before God in hopes that we might perish with him, but Jesus took that from him when He died for our sins and was raised again. Hebrews 2:14 says:

 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

 The joy, peace, and Good News of the Christmas season is offered to us over the crushed head of Satan. Jesus' death on the cross disarmed the enemy and secured his shameful defeat. And that is the gruesome, beautiful reality undergirding everything we celebrate at Christmas. 

 If you want to dig deeper into this, need help, need prayer, or have questions—please reach out to us here: Roots Help & Prayer Form 

 Merry Christmas, 

 Pastor Kevin Black