“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15)

There is an account in the book of Judges where the tribe of Judah was sent to fight against the Canaanites (Judges 1). As they set out, God delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into the Israelites hands. When they captured the Canaanite king solidifying their victory, they cut off his big toes and thumbs then paraded him as a conquered foe.

While this practice seems foreign, it was very effective. First because the king had no big toe, he would never be able to stand and fight again. Secondly, because he had no thumbs, he would never be able to hold a sword in battle again. Lastly, because he was on display as a defeated king striped of power and dignity, if he ever tried to assemble an army he would be discounted immediately. He has been overthrown, defeated, publicly shamed, humiliated, conquered and crushed.

Not only would he never be able to raise an army again, everyone who saw him would know what had happened. In the same way...

Jesus Overthrew, Defeated, Publicly Shamed, Humiliated, Conquered & Crushed Death!

On the cross, Jesus forever defeated death. The book of Romans says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).The grave could not hold Jesus; He defeated it from the inside out. He died to pay for our sins and the proof that it worked is demonstrated in the fact the He rose from the dead.

The grave had to release Jesus. As it discharged Him, He rose and made a public spectacle of it. He disarmed the powers and authorities that were agents of destruction and paraded them through the heavenly realm as a defeated, conquered, and powerless foes. He publicly shamed them, conquered and crushed them.

The cross was a complete victory!

Jesus Emerged the Victorious King

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father”
Philippians 2:8-11

I want to hear from you...

Today is Good Friday; it is the day we celebrate and remember Jesus’ death on the cross where sin, evil and Satan was defeated. Take a minute to share how knowing Jesus publicly humiliated the agents of death give you fresh perspective to celebrate this day of victory...