Jesus' Triumph Over Satan

Col 2:14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

Col 2:15 Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it.

The cross at Golgotha is where the greatest battle ever was fought. Not one demon was absent when this battle was fought. It was such a fierce battle that even the sun hid its face and there was darkness on earth. Rocks were rent asunder. Satan tried his level best to overthrow the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan was an angel of the north walking among the others in heaven, until pride was found in him and he was thrown out of heaven (Is 14:12-14). A third of the angels in heaven joined satan in his rebellion and was cast out of heaven with him (Rev 12:3-4; 7-9). One cannot grasp it. It's unthinkable that a third of the angel should side with satan. But if one looks at people, it's maybe understandable, when so many people side with satan.

In our text we read of rulers and authorities set against Jesus, but He triumphed over them. Some things in the Bible is difficult to understand because we do not use that terminology anymore, but during Jesus' time it was a well-known occurrence. The Romans were ruling the world at that time. Then it would happen that a rebellion would take place and Caesar would send his generals to quench the uprising. Once the rebellion was put down, they would catch the leader of the rebellion and strip the leader of all his arms, tie him to their chariot, and drag him behind the chariot till they reach Rome. Two messengers would go ahead with burning incense to bring the good news that the enemy was defeated. They would then bind the rebel in the city plain in Rome, mock him and expose him to open shame. Even children would be able to mock and pelt him with rotten tomatoes or eggs. Although he was a feared man during the uprising, now he was exposed to open shame and powerless.

So there was a great battle at Golgotha, but Jesus overcame the devil and stripped him of his weapons and put him to open shame.

It is heartbreaking that many people fear satan. Satan has no power, but he receives power in your life through sin. If you fear satan then you don't know Jesus. The Bible says, "He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world" (1John 4:4).

When you sin it is recorded. But in Jesus all your sin is nailed to the cross, that the power of sin can be overcome in your life.

The veil that was rent from the top to the bottom signifies that the tearing of that thick veil, 3 inch thick, was through God's power (Matt 27:51). So too salvation comes not from man but from God.

If you are complete in the Lord, you need not fear the devil; he will fear you.