Colossians 2:11-15 –“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”  NKJV

If we were to truly understand what Jesus accomplished at the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension, we would be incredibly bold and faith-filled in our walk, word, and work.  We were outside looking in, but as a result of His sacrificial death on the Cross, subsequent resurrection, and ascension to the Right Hand of the Throne of God, we can be saved.  We have been translated from the kingdom, dominion, and domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God.  We become members of the Body of Christ, and ‘as He is, so are we in this world.’  (1 John 4:17)

The apostle unveils a truth that we dare not miss or lessen the importance of. Jesus disarmed principalities and powers and made a Public Spectacle of them, Triumphing over them.  I have often questioned why we, the children of God, exhibit a fear of the devil, and many spend so much time worrying about what the devil is or might do to them.  He should worry about what we, as the children of God, will do to him and his kingdom. 

I find the language here fascinating and wish to highlight a few things for your consideration:

• He DISARMED principalities and powers.

Disarmed goes hand in hand with the directive of Christ to the disciples that they had Power over all the Authority of the devil.  We are told that the weapons of our warfare are Mighty Through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  We are informed that the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church, and gates, in Scripture, usually refer to authority or seats of authority.   Jesus has Disarmed the devil. 

If that is true, the devil’s most potent weapons are Fear and Intimidation.  His success depends on our complicity with his deception.  The Bible declares that we are More Than Conquerors through Christ.  If that is true, then we are putting ten thousand to flight, not being put to flight.  We are to be the head, not the tail.  We are to be the victors, not the victims.  Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords has disarmed our enemy.

• He made a PUBLIC SPECTACLE of them.

At the Cross, it appeared that the devil had put Jesus to open shame, the shame of dying the death of a criminal.  Had the Cross resulted in the death of Jesus, it would have been a public victory for the devil, but He didn’t stay dead.  He Rose from the Dead and manifested Himself publicly at His ascension, thereby making a Public Spectacle of the devil and all who were pawns of Lucifer.  He made them a laughingstock by rising from the dead and ascending to His rightful place at the Right Hand of the Father, making intercession for His children.

• He TRIUMPHED over them.

The Triumph in Roman times was significant for it was the parade and ceremony in which a conquering general would parade the spoils of the conquered as well as the conquered generals and peoples led forth in chains for a public show.  The Victorious General was voted a Triumph by the Roman Senate and given honor and goods.  We are told we are ‘seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ and ‘heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus.’  If it is Christ in us the hope of glory, then His triumph is our triumph, and His victory our victory.  He has given us His Authority over the Power of the enemy.

Beloved, let us begin acting like a conqueror and refuse to be relegated to a lesser life spiritually.  What He did He did for us and has invited us to share in His Triumph!

God bless you as you go through your day!