International
16 Nov 06
Colossians 2 v 15
Jen Mace (1831-1910), known as 'the father of modern boxing', the first to be attributed with the title ‘World Champion’ and who fought his last match at 73 years old, is quoted as having said ‘Hate him .Make him your greatest enemy. Think murder, think pain, think humiliation. Seek to destroy and pound the life out of him. If you can’t enter the ring with that view of your opponent, then you shouldn’t enter the ring at all.’
What is humanity’s greatest enemy?
In Colossians Paul has written to Christians who were being tempted to add to Jesus alone as the centre of their faith. Paul’s response is to remind them that all they need is Jesus and not to be distracted away from him however clever people’s arguments are (2v8). Paul gives three reasons why all they need is Jesus; we’ve looked at two over the last few weeks:
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All you need is Jesus because he provides complete knowledge of God (2v9-10)
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All you need is Jesus because he pays the complete debt you owe (2v11-14)
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And finally, all you need is Jesus because he completely defeats your worst enemy (2v15)
(God) disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open
shame, by triumphing over them in (Jesus). (Col 2v15)
Whether Paul means spiritual powers or human institutes set against the Christian, the source of both is the Devil. The Devil is ultimately humanity’s worst adversary; desperate for us to fail, eager to encourage our rebellion, celebrating our denial of God. The Devil is the catalyst behind our rejection of God. He instigates error and lies. Alone we are powerless to defend ourselves against his antics; we walk the rotten paths he lays, blind to their corrupt nature.
But where we are powerless to defend ourselves and blind to our plight, Jesus reigns. Jesus ultimately triumphs over the Devil, leaving him with only the pretence of influence, able to bruise the Christian, but to do no genuine harm.
Without Jesus people are the unknowing plaything of the Devil’s enjoyment. With Jesus, the Devil has his teeth removed, like a snake charmer’s adder – all show and hiss, but the fangs pulled out!
Paul’s trio of reasoning here is extraordinary - Jesus provides complete knowledge of God, Jesus pays the complete debt we owe, Jesus completely defeats our worst enemy. Jesus deserves our full loyalty, exuberant worship and overwhelming gratitude as we play our sport for him and seek to introduce others to the wonders of what Jesus has accomplished for us.
Alex and Graham
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