“HE DISARMED THE principalities and the powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:15). The marginal reading says, “in it” (the cross). Whether it was in Him or in the cross, it is the same—He triumphed over these powers in the cross. These principalities and powers represented the hierarchies of beings in Hebrew and Gnostic thought. He stripped them of their powers, disarmed them at the cross.
Two great powers joined in crucifying Jesus—the power of religion, represented by the high priests, and the power of the state, represented by Pilate and his Roman officers and soldiers. He disarmed them both, made a public showing of them. “By [our] law he ought to die” (John 19:7). Jesus replied by abolishing the law. “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend” (John 19:12). Jesus replied by abolishing Caesar—made Himself Lord and King.
He did this masterfully and simply. They asserted themselves; He surrendered Himself. They offered sacrifice to God and to Caesar; He abolished both by Himself becoming the sacrifice. Then that sacrifice became final power—the keepers were like dead men—He arose before their eyes and left them disarmed.
A dramatist puts it this way, saying through the centurion to Mary at the cross: “Woman, I tell you this dead Son of yours, shamed, spit upon, has built a kingdom this day that will shake into dust the kingdoms founded on blood and fear. Something has happened on this hilltop this day that will never die. The Meek, the terrible Meek, the fierce, agonizing Meek are about to enter their inheritance.” He was right. The cross towers over the wrecks of time. The wrecks are stripped—He stands girded to control the future. There is no alternative; it is Christ or chaos. He rules or we ruin. If love will not rule us, hate will rubble us. He lives—all else dies!
O Jesus, Lord and Conqueror, we thank Thee that Thy conquest is our conversion. We are put into the dust to rise to the highest heaven. We are beneath Thy feet and beside Thee on Thy throne. We are conquered and we conquer—in Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: “Triumphing over them in him”—today I determine the content of them—may it be all.
