“That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” Hebrews 2:14
"Let us just picture a scene. When the Lord Jesus came down to earth, Satan knew His errand. He knew that the Lord Jesus was the Son of God and when he saw Him an Infant in the manger, he thought if he could kill Him and get Him in the bonds of death, what a fine thing it would be! So He stirred up the spirit of Herod to slay Him. But Herod missed his mark. And many a time did Satan strive to put the personal existence of Christ in danger so that he might get Christ to die. Poor fool as he was, he did not know that when Christ died, He would bruise the devil’s head. Once, you remember, when Christ was in the synagogue, the devil stirred up the people and made them angry. And he thought, “Oh, what a glorious thing it would be if I could kill this Man. Then there would be an end of Him and I should reign supreme forever.” So he got the people to take Him to the brow of the hill and he gloated over the thought that now surely He would be cast down headlong! But Christ escaped. He tried to starve Him, he tried to drown Him. He was in the desert without food and He was on the sea in a storm. But there was no starving or drowning Him and Satan, no doubt, panted for His blood and longed that He should die. At last the day arrived. It was telegraphed to the court of Hell that at last Christ would die. They rung their bells with hellish mirth and joy. “He will die now,” said Satan, “Judas has taken the 30 pieces of silver! Let those Scribes and Pharisees get Him, they will no more let Him go than the spider will a poor unfortunate fly! He is safe enough now.” And the devil laughed for very glee when he saw the Savior stand before Pilate’s bar. And when it was said, “Let Him be crucified,” his joy scarcely knew bounds—except that bound which his own misery must ever set to it. As far as he could, he reveled in what was to him a delightful thought—that the Lord of Glory was about to die! In death, as Christ was seen of angels, He was seen of devils, too. And that dreary march from Pilate’s palace to the Cross was one which devils saw with extraordinary interest. And when they saw Him on the Cross, there stood the exulting Fiend, smiling to himself. “Ah, I have the King of Glory now in my dominions! I have the power of death and I have the power over the Lord Jesus.” He exerted that power till the Lord Jesus had to cry out in bitter anguish, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” But ah, how short-lived was hellish victory! How brief was the Satanic triumph! He died and, “It is finished!” shook the gates of Hell. Down from the Cross the Conqueror leaped, pursued the Fiend with thunderbolts of wrath! Swift to the shades of Hell the Fiend did fly and swift descending went the Conqueror after him. And we may conceive Him exclaiming—
“Traitor! This bolt shall find and pierce you through, Though under Hell’s profoundest wave you dive, To find a sheltering grave.”
And seize him He did—chained him to His chariot wheel—dragged him up the steps of Glory. Angels shouting all the while, “He has led captivity captive and received gifts for men.” Now, Satan, you said you would overcome me when I came to die. Satan I defy you and laugh you to scorn! My Master overcame you and I shall overcome you! You say you will overcome the saint, do you? You could not overcome the saint’s Master and you will not overcome him! You once thought you had conquered Jesus—you were bitterly deceived! Ah, Satan, you may think you shall overcome the Little-Faith and the Faint-Heart, but you are wondrously mistaken—for we shall shortly assuredly tread you under our feet. And even in our last extremity, with fearful odds against us, we shall be “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” C.H. Spurgeon-"The Destroyer Destroyed"
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