Text: Genesis 3:15 | Listen to Message
The Serpent Crusher
Just 3 chapters into the biblical narrative, humanity had already abused its God-given freedom by listening to the lie of the serpent (Satan) and rebelling against the Creator’s one command. Adam and Eve had declared their independence from God…with disastrous consequences. All of creation fell under the Curse. Life from here on would be painful, shameful, and futile – and everything would lead to death and separation from God, the Giver of life.
But right in the midst of the Curse, God said this to the serpent: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).
And there it is: the first Advent promise ever! One day a Serpent Crusher would be born of a woman to reverse the Curse!
After that – and for probably thousands of years – the serpent was given relatively free reign to deceive, accuse, and destroy God’s image bearers. But God never forgot His promise. And one day, He sent His own Son – the Serpent Crusher – to become the son of Mary, the seed of a woman!
See, Jesus Christ is the one promised in Genesis 3:15. By his sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus defanged the serpent. For how could Satan accuse and condemn the one that God Himself had justified? How could Satan deceive when God Himself had exposed the utter worthlessness of his lies? And how could Satan kill and destroy those that God Himself had ransomed for eternal life?
Looking forward to the future Second Advent of Jesus, the Bible tells us that the serpent will one day be utterly defeated. Revelation 12 says he’s already been thrown down from heaven, conquered by the blood of the Lamb that covers our sins. And Revelation 20 says that his doom is sure – that a day is coming when Jesus will bind and defeat our greatest adversary once and for all.
So how are we to live in “the in-between time”? How are we to live looking back at the Cross, where the serpent was mortally wounded and disarmed (Colossians 2:13-15)? And how are we to live looking forward to the Returning King who will hurl the serpent into the lake of fire for all eternity?
The simple answer is that we are called to stand firm in Christ’s victory, which is also ours by grace. Jesus never says, “I beat Satan and now it’s your turn.” What he says is something more like this: “I defeated Satan for you; now be clothed in my power so that you may withstand the attacks of the Evil One.”
The very first Advent promise – the promise of a Serpent Crusher – has been fulfilled, is being fulfilled, and will finally be fulfilled in Christ. You have a worthy Champion. Now go and live victoriously!
Sermon Notes & Application Questions