The Slavery of Death

by Richard Beck

attack again. For the next three years, Satan and Jesus confront each other in the lives of suffering people as “Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil” (Acts 10:38). By binding Satan on earth Jesus shows that the Kingdom of God has been inaugurated (Matt 12:22–28). Jesus “drives out the prince of this world” (John 12:28–32), setting free those who were held in bondage to Satan (Luke 13:15–17). The Kingdom continually expands, and Jesus’ followers report their own power over Satan; thus the victory seems to be in hand as Jesus sees Satan “falling like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:17–18). On the brink of defeat Satan makes his move, entering the heart of Judas to betray Jesus (Luke 22:2–4; John 13:2, 27; John 14:30). Fully aware that this is happening, Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray and to wait for Judas. In accordance with God’s plan, there Jesus is handed over and eventually crucified (Acts 2:23–24). “But God raised this Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:25). Being raised from the dead, Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col 2:15). Now ascended into heaven, Jesus reigns and will eventually “hand over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ...