He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Colossians 2:15 (ESV)
The Jewish and Roman authorities thought they had successfully solved the problem brought about by the popular teacher/miracle worker. Unknowingly they (the authorities) had been manipulated. The Jewish leaders were under the control of deceived spirits. They had chosen to reject truth and had been given over to the alternative deception that is always the judgment on those rejecting truth. This deception is supported by the demons who work for the father of lies: the devil. Although they thought they were acting in their own liberty, they were pawns of evil forces. The Jews then were manipulating the Roman authorities to get rid of this trouble maker: Jesus. Of course we all know the Roman authorities were deceived as evidenced by their profession that their Caesar was god. So we see two major forces converging to eradicate what they thought was their problem.
They took Jesus and mocked him. They put mocking robes on him and a mocking crown on his head. They stripped him naked and exposed him to the watching world as a supposed fraud. He died. They congratulated themselves for a job well done. However, being unaware of the dynamics of the spiritual world's reality that day, they couldn't see what was really happening. Instead of Jesus being stripped of his clothing and dignity, it was the illegitimate authorities that were exposed. Thinking they had won, they lost. By dying Jesus paid the debt of sin owed by sinners and ripped the power of punishment from the Law. Satan could no longer legitimately accuse according to justice. Now the requirements the Jews were using to condemn others and justify themselves were exposed as useless. But that is not all. By rising from the dead, Jesus defeated death which ripped the threat from the hands of the devil. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV) Their schemes had turned out to be not only unsuccessful but destructive to themselves. Demonic powers have been exposed and defeated. They are still around, but as "in Christ" people we have the authority of the victorious Christ to use against them. The Jews lost everything within a generation. In 70 AD, the Roman army destroyed the city, the temple, the priesthood, and the record of lineage. Then the Roman authority began to crumble and finally toppled. Both stand as monuments testifying they were both frauds. The real authority was the one on the cross. Though to all physical eyes, he looked like the victim, he was the victor.
We are reminded that unless we take into account what is happening in the spiritual realm we can't accurately discern reality. We are also comforted to know that we are never victims when we walk in him. Because he has defeated the powers behind the powers, we can enforce his victory as we invade the spheres of influence of our world.
SYNERGY - Better Together: October 01, 2010 click for more > Five Pillars of New Testament Discipleship: : October 15, 2010 click for more > Family Reunion Retreat: December 03, 2010 click for more >
