Our Savior gained the victory over Satan in his life, death, resurrection and judgment.
Christ cast out devils on the battlefield of his public ministry, demonstrating his power over Satan and foreshadowing his ultimate triumph over the prince of darkness on the cross.
In his death, Satan seems to have his “finest hour”, but in the end he is defeated. As Genesis 3:15 foretold, Christ crushes the head of the serpent.
In his tender kindness, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene. It is significant that the Scriptures indicate that Christ appeared first to one whom Satan had, as the number 7 signified, completely and utterly bound. Such an appearance emphasizes the centrality of Jesus as the one who both frees and redeems even those most severely under Satan’s sway.
Finally, we see that Satan is currently bound, no longer able to deceive the nations. His final judgment will be when he is cast into, not his home as our modern culture mistakenly believes, but to the place of everlasting torment, hell.
The doctrine of Christ’s victory over Satan is great comfort to the believer. All the powers of the kingdom of darkness combined can never, under any circumstances, snatch you out of our Lord’s mighty, tender hand. |
