Sometimes, the story of Jesus is depicted in odd ways. In various on-screen or onstage representations of the gospel, we see Satan enjoying a momentary victory when Jesus was crucified, only to have his gloating spoiled by the resurrection. But I don’t think for a second Satan believed the cross was his own victory. In fact, I believe Satan worked extremely hard to prevent the cross from ever happening. He understood redemption better than anyone, and would do anything to stop it.
The cross wasn’t a place of defeat for Jesus. It was a moment of victory. Paul wrote that “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:14-15 NLT)
On the cross, Jesus completed His life mission of dying for sin. He accomplished the work of redemption, purging our sins and purchasing our pardon. He publicly put to shame Satan’s plan to wreck and ruin humanity forever. He paid a price, restored hope, offered salvation, and He won. And when we trust in Jesus, we win with Him!
Satan may have gloated at the suffering of the Son of God, but never at His actual death. His death is our life. His sacrifice is our pardon. His payment is our freedom. And his victory is ours to share!
