Devil Zero…Jesus Won
Matthew 28:1-10
3-23-08 Easter Sunrise (PDBC)
What we celebrate today is the culmination of a conflict good and evil, sin and righteousness, condemnation and redemption, the condemner and redeemer. Today we celebrate the discovery of those who walked with and loved our Lord Jesus.
28:1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5 But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” 8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.” Matthew 28:1-10 (HCSB)
Now I know that the final chapter is yet to unfold but what we celebrate on this Resurrection Sunday; the fact that Jesus’ resurrection broke the chains of death and the grave…really is the knock out blow to Satan.
A cosmic battle has been waging since the beginning of time as we know it. The Bible details the epic battle between God and Satan. In Genesis we find the Devils first deceptive encounter with man. He was the instigator behind the Fall of Man. He twisted God’s words to Adam and Eve and deceived them. I don’t’ believe this was an attack against creation as much as it was an attack against God. The Devil despises our God. Satan thought he could be better than God and I believe he may still think he’s greater than God. Oh, how deep deception can run even one’s own deception.
In Isaiah we read an account of the king of Babylon but it is believed the prophet Isaiah saw deeper significance. Take note as I begin to read…that the name “Lucifer” is Latin for “Morning Star”. Listen to verses. Isaiah 14:12-15
14:12 Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. 13 You said to yourself: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the [gods’] assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. 14 I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit.
What we have here may well be a description of Satan’s attempted coup over God. This attempt to usurp the throne of God and capture it for himself failed and God cast Satan out of heaven. Tally in the competition: Satan 0 God 1
When Satan couldn’t defeat God he sought to defeat the most prized creation of God…Mankind. So Satan attacked Mankind in the Garden of Eden. Satan deceived Man and won a battle for himself. Man crumbled and ate the fruit bringing upon mankind the curse of sin and death. I’m sure Satan was keeping tally. New Tally: Satan 1…God 1
In the book of Job in chapters one and two Satan waltzes into a meeting of God and His angels. He issued a challenge that he could destroy Job’s faith in God. He took great pain and pleasure in wreaking havoc upon Job’s life. Everything and Everyone around Job crumbled and while Satan surely found an immense sense of joy in such an accomplishment he was unable to break Job. This may have been considered a drawl. But in the meantime Satan brought great pain into the lives of those around Job and even Job himself. Surely Satan found pleasure in turmoil he unleashed against God’s creation. New tally: Satan 2 God 1.
Many years went by and God’s only Son left heaven and took on the form of man. Satan must have thought, “Finally, I can attack God while His guard is down.” Now I have Him confined to this weak, fragile body.”
Perhaps it would be prudent to stop and wonder…”how deep can deception go”? You see, Satan had an intimate knowledge of God and scripture and yet he arrogantly conceived of the notion that he would win this battle.
So Satan began to unleash his battle plan. He attacked at the birth of Christ hoping to snuff out the life of baby Jesus. He attacked Jesus at the outset of his ministry when he challenged and tempted Jesus in the wilderness. This time he lost again. New tally: Satan 2 God 2
No doubt discouraged by these defeats Satan withdrew from the Lord and lurked in the shadows waiting and seizing upon opportunity to attack again. Then he attacked Jesus much the way he comes at us today…through other people. He used accusations, insults, attempted violence, hatred, jealousy, bribery. The irony is that Satan was using God’s most prized creation…Mankind…to attack God’s precious and only Son.
This strategy, it seemed, was working better than any direct attack by Satan himself. Finally, after three years of ministry Satan felt the victory was at hand. He had so blinded and deceived the people that they had seized Jesus and put him on trial under false testimony. Finally, the verdict cried out, “Crucify Him!”
Satan could taste it now. Oh, how deep does deception run? Satan reveled in the fact that the very people God sent His Son to save had turned against him. From the shadows Satan impatiently waited the final death blows. Chills must have been running up and down his spineless back as Jesus was beaten and mocked and then…It was about to happen…the cross, the nails the spear and the last breath…Jesus was dead. Satan cheered. Just to be certain…he lurked in the shadows following them to the grave and watching the stone rolled into place. “It’s done” Satan must have thought, “He’s dead and I win God… so much for your plan.”
New Tally: Satan 3 God 2
Satan must have been pleased that he was able to hang with God in this competition. He’s actually ahead.
Oh, how deep can deception run? There must have been one large party erupting in the pits of hell but it didn’t last long. The gates of hell began to rattle as the power of God broke the chains hell and there stood the Lord. Oh, how Satan must have trembled.
That rattle grew and grew as it reverberated from the pits of hell making its way the place of the tomb where it shook the ground violently as an earthquake. The stone began to move as brilliant rays of light…first barely piercing the smallest crack then bursting forth from the inner sanctum where the dead body of Christ once lay…but now the darkness of the tomb was filled with a light of such radiance that it could only be produce by the power of the Creator Himself.
Satan’s assumed victory had been revoked. Every victory that Satan believed himself to have amassed had been revoked. The tally in the end...?
Satan 0
Jesus WON
