He Didn't Even Throw a Punch

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

Long-lasting victory can never be separated from a long-lasting stand on the foundation of the cross. - Watchman Nee

It was the greatest fight ever! The most influential and cosmos changing knock out ever, and Jesus didn’t even throw a punch.

To see when the “date” of the re-match was announced, you would have to go back to the first fight, back to the wilderness.  

Right after the Jesus' baptism, he was led by the Spirit into the desert, into the ring where, for 40 days, Jesus and Satan went toe to toe.  Luke Chapter 4 has the summary of how it all went down, and the last round details are recorded:  Satan threw two jab punches at the identity of the Son of God … "If you are the son of God …" , and then one last desperate swing to see if Jesus would bow and worship him over the Father. The crafty veteran won another fight, early in creation, that way, so the snake repackaged his attempt. But this time, Satan’s punches fell short.  

The fight in the wilderness was ended in controversy because it was finished without a victor, in rather a confusing draw.  But in the drama that unfolded during those 40 rounds, the passage in Luke ends, 

“When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him temporarily ... until a more opportune time." - Luke 4:14

You see, Satan held the title; He got it from the first Adam and therefore had the authority that came with the belt.  Jesus, the second Adam, came to win it back, to win us back: to take the authority, and set us free (Romans 5:14-18).

Authority comes with the title.  Adam gave it away, Jesus recovered it.  The prince of this dark world loses to the Prince of Peace, and now we await the final fight … the fight to end all fights when the King will exercise all his authority in a weight class there is no rival.  At the end of that fight, there will be no more Satan, no more false-self, no more sin, and no more fallen world … all that was lost will be won back, all will be as it once was in the beginning - made new, restored. 

So we embrace the cross, not just for the forgiveness of sin, but also for the power it still holds over our enemies.  They have many weight classes and many contenders in the fight for power and authority in our lives.  We will have to enter into the ring.  The victory is already won, they know that. What they want to know is if we know that.  They will know that we know when we don’t even throw a punch, but, like Jesus, stand on who we are … who are Father told us we are and give our worship only to our King. Our wills will be tried, our beliefs will be challenged, and any compromise will result in another draw inviting us back to fight again and reclaim what we lost during the fights earlier in our careers.  When we stand, that’s when they hit the floor and we are escorted with Jesus on the platform of champions.  Yes, he shares the platform with all his friends. 

I pray you know how to use the cross in prayer.  For a taste, pray the section below.  Download the full Daily Prayer and go a few more rounds establishing your place in the Kingdom of God and reminding your contenders who you are.  They’ll fall when you enforce the victory that is ours in the cross … they have to.  You will be amazed how far a little power and authority will go against your enemies.  Fight the good fight!