Life in the Spirit · Evangelism and Mission

Whom Did Jesus Expose Publicly?

5 min read, approximately

“Before, you were dead, because you were sinners and did not belong to God’s people. But now God has given you life together with Christ and has forgiven all your sins. The written law stood against us, but God brought it to an end through Christ’s death on the cross. God stripped the spirits that hold authority of their power and, through Christ, humiliated them before everyone, parading them as prisoners in his victorious procession.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

Many of us do not know exactly what happened on the cross at Calvary. Yet God’s Word teaches us that Jesus knew very clearly what he was going to do.

Jesus knew his battle was not against us, which is why:

“… Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34a)

Jesus knew that:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

That is why, just before going to his crucifixion, he said:

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. The people who were standing there and heard it said it had thundered. Others said: An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered: This voice has not come for my sake, but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:27-32)

Jesus Knew He Had to Make Himself Vulnerable to Redeem Us! But Wait—In What Way?

First, by sharing in flesh and blood

“Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 ASV)

And second, by becoming a curse for us

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. This was so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, and so that through faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14)

Cursed Is Everyone Who Hangs on a Tree?

“If someone has committed a sin deserving a death sentence, [for which] he must die, and you have hung him on a tree, his body must not remain on the tree overnight. You must bury him that same day, for the one who is hanged is under God’s curse. Do not defile the land the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

And then:

“… he was buried, and (that) he rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:4)

It is here that:

“When you were dead in sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with him, forgiving you all your sins. He canceled the record of decrees against us that stood opposed to us, removing it and nailing it to the cross. Having disarmed the principalities and powers, he exposed them publicly, triumphing over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

That Is Right!

Everything that condemned, accused, and subjected us… Yes, those principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual forces of evil, and Satan (Ephesians 6:12), Jesus himself disarmed them, exposed them, and triumphed over them!
He Also Took Captivity Captive!

“But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says: When he ascended on high, he took captivity captive and gave gifts to people. What does ‘he ascended’ mean, except that he also first descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is the very one who also ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.” (Ephesians 4:7-10)

Jesus Came to Destroy the Devil’s Works!

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works.” (1 John 3:7-8)

And beyond that:

“Therefore God also exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

What Now?

Does the enemy accuse us? Point fingers at us? Seek to subdue us? Let us remember that Christ granted us authority and power:

“And to make clear to everyone the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that God’s manifold wisdom might now be made known through the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:9-11)

Whom Did Jesus Expose Publicly?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!