Seeing the Unseen- Week 9
How Does the Cross defeat Satan?

Have you ever wondered what Satan was thinking the day of the Crucifixion? I have. I imagine he was gloating like proud victor after a hard won fight, showing no remorse or humility. Remember that seen in The Passion, where Satan walked around the crowd gloating and even taunting Mary? Remember when he shouted in victory as Christ died? What did you think about that? I know that was not in scripture, but I believe it was probably pretty accurate! It is my feeling that Satan was excited and celebrating that day!

That was the day that God left the Earth. The sun literally went dark. For a moment at the cross, God was not present. As a result, I imagine that Satan was…..with all of his evil forces! I wonder if you could feel the presence of evil strongly in the crowd? If there was ever a time or place demanding, even worthy of darkness, it was here! Evil must have filled the air!

Satan surely must have stood at the cross gloating. He must have smiled watching the tattered body of Christ slowly give way to death. They’d known each other for some time. They had met, they had talked. This time though, I bet Satan thought he was in charge. I bet he thought he had won! Whatever Jesus had come to do, He had failed…or so the Devil thought! Don’t you think so? Satan had successfully turned the people against Him. I imagine if he for one second thought he was actually LOSING in this act, that Satan would have made HUGE attempts to stop it…but he did not! Satan did NOT understand what was going on…only God did. Jesus was unleashing the power of grace and salvation in the same moment that Satan thought Jesus was losing. Once again, God was unveiling a new weapon in the fight….THE CROSS.
What do you think?
READ I Cor 2:7-8

What is the purpose of the cross?

That seems like an easy question, but I think it is deeper than it appears on the surface. What do you think was the ultimate purpose of the cross?
I am not sure that ANYONE knew why Jesus had come to Earth…..not Satan or any other angels (I Pet. 1:12).

Jesus made it clear why he came: to seek and save the lost. READ Luke 19:10 Throughout his life, He made it clear that he dominated Satan’s forces (by casting out demons, healing sick, raising dead etc.). Satan must have clearly seen that Jesus was ultimately intending to deliver mankind from him. But, he didn’t know HOW! Satan probably had prepared for an Earthly battle…..God had something else in mind!

Satan’s defeat would NOT come in a fierce battle on earth, but it would come the moment he lost his grip on mankind. That happened that at the cross! That was the purpose!

God’s “Limitations”

Sounds weird huh? Does God have any limitations? We know is all powerful and nothing is out of his reach, but let’s think about the whole picture shall we. Does the very nature of God have limitations? His very nature preludes his doing certain things. There ARE some things that he CANNOT do!!!!! For instance, he CANNOT lie (Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18) It is impossible for him to do so and still be God. A lie, therefore, would violate his very nature. God can’t sin! He is holy; sinless. He CANNOT violate any of his own laws. I ask again….are these limitations??????????

Remember what we said: God CANNOT violate any of his own laws! He made the punishment for violating his law death, even from the very beginning (Gen 2:16-17). All through Paul’s writing, God again declared the same punishment (Rom. 6:23).

So…this made our predicament quite complex didn’t it? Because we know that ALL OF US HAVE SINNED (Rom 3:23). Therefore, if God CANNOT violate his laws, then each of us was sentenced and deserving of death under it!!!! See where I am going yet? God CANNOT violate His law, SO…he COULD NOT ignore our sinfulness. He can’t pretend we don’t sin just because He loves us so much. His divinity requires him to honor this.

It was this honoring of the law that led to His plan for Jesus to die on the cross. It was these “limitations” that put it all into play: Jesus Suffered in Our Place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus in Our Place

When Jesus went to the cross, He did so with fear. What do you think He was afraid of? I don’t think it was the physical pain. It was the fact that as our substitute he would have to accept the DEATH we had coming for our sins. Death…..means separation. This is what He feared! He could only pay our penalty by being separated from God the Father!!!!!!!!! He wasn’t fearful of physical death, but of SPIRITUAL DEATH!

For the 1st and only time in eternity, Jesus and God would NOT be one! Have you ever truly considered that?

I don’t think that Jesus went to Hell after he died (in fact he told the thief next to him that THIS VERY DAY he would be with him in paradise Luke 23:43). I think he was in hell DURING his death, during the separation from his father! Literally…because Hell is where God is not! God left him at that time to fulfill his law. That is why the Earth turned black. The darkness showed God’s departure. Jesus’ crying in pain was the final proof. No nail or sword hurt as bad! For those belonging to him it is clear: Jesus defeats Satan by saving all of those who follow him!

His death gives us life in this great battle, because Satan now no longer has ANY hold on us! The cross gives us great power in our fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Resurrection

If this was his purpose in dying. What do you think was his purpose in resurrecting?

He validated everything by returning! Our forgiveness comes from what he did on the cross. His miraculous rising proves he was the Son of God! ROMAN 1:4



So…….what do you think Satan was feeling on that day? When did he realize?
Do you think he would have tried to stop it if he knew?

Thank God for his wonderful plan. We have been set free. One day Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, but 1st God had to fight the most important battle, one that Satan didn’t understand. Jesus did not come to take the world from Satan; He came to take people from Satan’s world!

Blessed be His glorious name!