Satan Reinterpreted
Scripture confirms that it is the event of the crucifixion that defeats the Devil (Heb. 2:14). How? Notice, the closer we move {in the passion narrative] to the actual event, the less visible the character of Satan becomes. Is it because the very form of the satanic is transformed in the process of its exposure? Indeed, it is the exposure of evil that defeats it. The principalities and powers would not have crucified our Lord if they knew what was happening (1 Cor. 2:8). The very principles on which our societies are founded, the powers by which they rule, would be unveiled in this event. “I see Satan fall like lightning” (Luke 10:18). I see this mythical personification of evil exposed as the very earthly process of accusation and violent sacrifice. When we do not creatively deal with the chaos within, when we make no room for the spirit of Elohim to hover over us in silent contemplation, when we hastily blame others rather than patiently transform, then we project our turmoil. It becomes a monstrous other and so we contribute to this satanic cycle of violence. Jesus reinterprets the satanic as the cycle of accusation that leads to sacrifice.
Facing the crucified Jesus, we are made to realize that standing by while victims suffer, is an act of rejecting God. It is in this moment, when the full weight of our responsibility is felt, that God chooses to make his acceptance of us absolute. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus demonstrates a God who does not get caught up in our cycles of retribution, who never enters into rivalry with us, but forgives.
Violence Reinterpreted
And so we come face to face with our own violence in the cross. It is in the act of violence where our story took a wrong turn; where we misidentified God and in so doing lost touch with our true selves. We had no patience to work through conflict, no appetite for conversing with our perceived enemies. But Jesus demonstrates a new way of being human and, consequently, a new way of being a society.
Why did Jesus have to suffer such a violent death? Why could he not pass away with a really bad cold and still have the same impact? Why the violence? By inventing gods who justify our violence we have become ever more callous towards it. Today, still, we outsource our violence to our governments and in so doing absolve ourselves of all responsibility. The centurion, who was present at the crucifixion, had seen many gruesome violent events like this before. He was a professional in the art of violence – unmoved, unfeeling, and fearless through years of practice. No doubt he found solace in the belief that he was only following orders, and the gods authorized those in command. The violence he witnessed inflicted upon Jesus was nothing unusual. But God opens his eyes: “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” A new interpretation of human violence is given when we too, like the centurion, stand facing the crucified Christ. God does not justify our violence, he suffers it! God is present in our victims!
In the mythic stories, the sacrificial death of the victim brings the chaos to an end for a season. It could only be for a season, for sacrifice is a solution that only deals with the symptoms and not with the cause. However, in myth, this event marks the end of the story for the victim. But something truly new is about to unfold. For these myths, so deeply encoded in human consciousness, to be subverted, a dramatic new event has to break the cycle…
Thank you, when I slow down I get so much from what you have written here.
James
Hi James. Thank you.
Many are teaching on Facebook, including Kay Fairchild, Simon yap, Dr. Roy Edmond that there is no devil or demons. What is your take?
thanks,
Pastor Tommy
Hi Tommy. It’s a huge and fascinating subject. The story of Satan has a history and a progression that can be followed throughout scripture. It is a story that attempts to deal with the paradox of evil and has many branches and interpretations. In my book Desire Found Me, I dedicated four chapters to following the progression of this story and how Jesus finally expose evil for what it is.
I had a profound experience after I became a lover of Jesus where one dark night in my car I hit..and killed.. first one opossum then a second one within 200m. At the first one I screamed..and at the second it was much amplified and I said ‘God why did you allow that to happen..I’ve never killed anything in my life before’..and very clearly He said..Yes you have Anna..and that was how I felt’. I had previously repented of having had two abortions in my young life and that day the realisation of my sin went much deeper. I have understood how He suffered as the creator and father of those precious children…and he has suffered with me even as I have mourned the loss of the only two children I conceived..but today I see that He suffered too as my victims..as my children. So, so moving..dear Father. Thankyou Andre.