Advent Devotionals: Day 18

One of the strangest boxing matches I’ve ever seen was on June 28, 1997. In the third round of the Heavyweight Championship between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear and was disqualified from the competition.

There have been so many epic battles like this throughout the ages, but none compare to the contest between Jesus and Satan described in Genesis 3:15 – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

This verse is referred to as the Proto-Evangelium because it’s the “first glimpse of the gospel” in the Old Testament, and it speaks of the Messiah—the “seed” or descendant of Eve—who would come to crush the serpent’s head.  

This prophecy was fulfilled by the incarnation, birth, death and resurrection of Christ, who defeated the devil once and for all by succeeding where Adam failed. The first Adam gave in to temptation.  The last Adam resisted every one of Satan’s attacks. The first Adam brought sin and death into the world.  The last Adam brought forgiveness and everlasting life.

Today, let’s rejoice that Jesus has prevailed over the serpent.  And he did it by becoming a man just like us in every way—except without sin.  

Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you have prevailed over Satan and defeated him at the cross.  No matter what devious and deceptive tactics the devil may use, he cannot and will not ever defeat you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation