15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:15
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” – Matthew 2:16-18
A Throne for One
Satan once “resided” in the presence of God enjoying all the beauty of Heaven and the fellowship of the divine. He was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” He was perhaps the highest angel. But despite his position, Satan was not content. Rather, he was full of pride. Instead of singing, “Holy, holy, holy” like the Seraphim before the throne of God, he wanted to replace God on the throne. But Satan would quickly learn that God will share His glory with no one or nothing; including His “highest” creation. Satan’s desire to be exalted to the throne of God resulted in God casting him out of heaven. Satan has been “at war” with God ever since.
We have been looking at Satan’s attempt to discredit and destroy the Word of God. Beginning in the Garden where he preyed on the pride of Adam and Eve with the temptation to be like God, Satan has been relentless in his attacks. Just as he was cast out of Heaven, Satan was cast out of the Garden. But before he was, God warned him that the woman’s offspring would crush his head. If Satan has waged an all-out war against God’s written Word, how much more violently would he try to destroy the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ?
Herod’s Decree
The passage quoted above from Matthew’s gospel clearly answers the question. Feeling threatened by the birth of the Christ child, Herod made a decree to have the young male children in Bethlehem killed with the intention of eliminating Jesus. But God is always more than one step ahead of Satan. Rather than being killed by Herod, Jesus was kept safely in Egypt until Herod died. But Herod was just one pawn in the hands of Satan.
Beloved Son
When Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove and rested on Him. From Heaven God proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). After being publicly anointed and blessed by the Father, Jesus went into the desert where He was tempted by the enemy. In the desert, the battle was heating up. Jesus was fasting. His flesh was “weakening”. Satan would not waste this opportunity to destroy the incarnate Word. No pawns would be used in this battle. Satan would come personally to confront Jesus. If Jesus took on flesh and blood to redeem man, Satan would attack the humanity of Jesus to destroy Him. Just as he used their pride against Adam and Eve, Satan would try the same tactic with Jesus.
It is Written
“Command this stone to become bread.” The lust of the flesh. Doesn’t that fruit look tasty? It will open your eyes. Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not bite. Instead, the incarnate Word quoted the Word of God. “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone.”
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” The pride of life. Flaunt your position. Use your powers. Prove yourself. Jesus did not jump. Again He quoted Scripture, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
“All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.” The lust of the eyes. Take the easy way out. Don’t pick up that cross. The cup will be bitter. Who can blame you for avoiding the suffering? Jesus would not bend a knee. The road to glory would include a cup and a cross. All glory belongs to God. “It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.“
“Command this stone.” “It is written.” “Throw yourself down” “It is written.” “Worship me.” “It is written.” “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Satan’s Weapons
Herod’s sword could not destroy the incarnate Word, and neither could Satan’s temptations. But Satan would employ other tactics and other weapons. He would turn to the “church” and the government. Institutions ordained by God. Institutions so many look to for “salvation”. Scary thought. Even more frightening is the fact that he would also use the disciples. Men hand picked by Jesus Himself. All would converge in another Garden of God’s choosing. The Second Adam, the incarnate Word, was prepared.
While the Pharisees were scheming and Judas was betraying, the disciples were sleeping. When humanity was at its worst, Jesus was praying. God is always at least one step ahead of Satan.
Empty Tomb
Satan unleashed the jealousy of the Pharisees and the cruelty of Rome. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and most of the other disciple scattered. Pilate waffled and the crowd shouted. The guilty Barabbas was released and the innocent Jesus was condemned. Jesus drank from the cup and carried the cross. His hands and feet were nailed and his side was pierced. His blood flowed and His breath expired. It is finished. Not quite.
For a while, it appeared that the Roman cross accomplished what the Roman sword had failed to do thirty-three years earlier… Until the empty tomb on the third day. The stone was rolled away to show the world: God’s Word is indestructible!! Far from being destroyed, it was about the spread like never before.
35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” – Matthew 24:35