Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Genesis 3:15 "He will crush your head!"
SNAKE BEATER
I remember it well. I was part of a work crew digging footings near Tioga, North Dakota, when suddenly I spied a big rattlesnake slithering by my foot. Instinctively I backed away. The fella' I was working with, however, grabbed his hammer from his tool belt, and with lightning speed and perfect aim starting beating on the head of the slithering beast. In a matter of moments it was dead. After the deed was done, my partner looked at me, placed his hammer back in his tool belt like a gunfighter from the ol' West, and said: "I hate snakes. I see one, I crush it!"
During these Lenten days we look upon our dear Savior, beaten and bloodied. But we know He is no helpless victim. He's our Snake Beater. He came to crush the head of that Old Serpent, called the devil. On the cross he bore all sin in His own body, paying for every last sin of every last person. On the Third Day He rose in victory over sin, death, and hell. As they say, "He crushed it!" He crushed Satan's power to accuse you of sin and to destroy you in hell.
Jesus' work to save us is finished! Nothing more needs to be done. However, Satan is still after us. He'd love to sink his deadly fangs into us and to poison our faith. But God has not left His believers without a way to deal with the Father of Lies. He's given us His Word. His Word is something like my partner's hammer. When the Serpent slithers in your direction, get your hammer out and beat the enemy down. God's Word of salvation is a painful reminder on the head of that snake Satan that He's already been beaten.
Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not overpower us.
This world's prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, He's judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 262:3)
