Look closely at this picture. There is something very wrong with it. Can you tell what it is?

Read more: What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Blasphemy

What’s wrong with this picture is that it is complete and total blasphemy.

Why?

Because it depicts the Lord Jesus Christ and Satan as being equals. They are portrayed as being of equal strength, wrestling to see which one will emerge victorious in the conflict. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Real Picture

When we examine the Gospels, a very different picture emerges. For instance, look at this scene from the synagogue in Capernaum.

²³ Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mark 1:23 – 26

Note how the demons knew Jesus had the power to destroy them. It is also worth noting that they immediately left at Christ’s command. There was no struggle involved, at least not on Jesus’ part.

Now look at what happened in the area of the Gadarenes. A man was horribly possessed by many demons. The people of the area had tried to help him, but to no avail. Then one day, Jesus landed on their shores.

⁶ When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. ⁷ And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

⁸ For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” ⁹ Then He asked him, “What is your name?”

And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” ¹⁰ Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

¹¹ Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. ¹² So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” ¹³ And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. Mark 5:6 – 13

Once again, we see the demons recognizing Christ’s authority to torment them. He also dismisses them with a simple word, and they depart and destroy a whole herd of pigs. That’s because demons bring destruction and damnation to everything they touch, while Christ brings life and liberty. While the people in his neighborhood struggled desperately to help Him, Jesus delivered him effortlessly.

Even during Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, there was no real struggle. Jesus simply declared His allegiance to His Heavenly Father each time, and the battle was won. So we see Jesus gaining victory over the devil at every turn.

The Final Defeat

A day will come when Jesus Christ will exert His Kingly authority and bring about the final defeat of Satan. We see it recorded in Revelation 20:10.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

When Satan is finally cast into the lake of fire, there will be no resistance on his part. His reign of terror, such as it was, will be brought to an abrupt halt. When the smoke clears, only the Lord Jesus Christ will be left standing in utter triumph.

A Better Picture

With everything we have shared, this might be a better picture…

We participate in Christ’s victory by submitting to God and resisting the devil (James 4:7), just like He did. This is one of the great privileges for those of us who are living in the Reign.

M

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelsen, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.