Thursday, May 14, 2015

5/15/15- Christ Wins

15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)

Thoughts; Paul was thinking of both worldly and spiritual authorities and rulers.  Colossians 1:16 speaks of Christ making all things and powers visible and invisible. 2:10 speaks of His being head over every power - that includes worldly and spiritual.  Christ's triumph was not just a physical triumph,  but it did include a physical triumph.  There is no doubt that the Roman rulers and their guard was ashamed. The professional executors were defeated.  The Jewish authorities were defeated too.  The Romans emphasized mental and physical exercise.  The Jewish authorities of the time emphasized keeping the commands on the exterior but not necessarily the interior.  But Jesus also had a spiritual triumph.  No spiritual force is greater than He.  It is important to note in our day in which some think everything spiritual is equivalent (monism), that the claim here is that Christ is head over all spiritual things.  Many who do not believe (and some who do) would say this is a brash and perhaps unfounded claim.  But Jesus backed this up in His teachings and in His resurrection.  No one else can claim to be raised from the dead- physically or spiritually.  The cross- instead of being a symbol of torture and of Roman rule- is a symbol of Christ's triumph over sin (spiritual) and over the grave (physical).  He is the only true Lord, worthy of our allegiance.  We will not go wrong in giving ourselves fully (all in) to Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your victory over the grave.  Thank you that you are victorious in every way.  Help me to rest in your power and your victory. 

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