Jesus the Warrior

The image of the warrior is in the heart of most men.

But we don’t usually associate Jesus the Christ with being a warrior.

Many rejected (and continue to reject) Jesus because he didn’t destroy Israel’s enemies.

Let’s briefly consider the warrior spirit of Christ Jesus.

Infiltrated Enemy Territory

God the Son (Jesus Christ) became a human being.  Humanity was and is at war with God.  Human society is enemy territory.  Imagine living with people who will betray and kill you?  But to disarm his enemies, Jesus came with an open hand.  He didn’t come with a sword because we would have all deserved his wrath. He would win back his rebellious creation by personal sacrifice.  To make us one with God, Jesus became one of us.

Outwitted His Enemies

Examine his life you’ll see Jesus’ enemies trying to trap him with questions and debates.  But Jesus never allowed his enemies to dictate the confrontation.  Like a master strategist he answered questions with a question or story and flipped the trap back on his enemies.

Self-Control

From the Samurai to the Marine, self-control is a key virtue.  A lack of self-control is shameful to warriors.  No one exercised this virtue better than Jesus.  He had the power to calm the storms and yet endured the cross.  After steeling himself in prayer, pouring out his heart to His Father, Jesus met his enemies head-on.

Stripping the Demonic

Jesus Christ always exercised authority over demons.  Life is more than just what we see.  There are spiritual forces in rebellion against God.  We are targets because we are in God’s image.  Because of our rebellion we were stuck in a curse that gave demonic powers the right to oppress us.  But Jesus stripped Sin, Death and Satan of their power by willing laying down his life.  The demonic powers had no idea that they were playing right into his plan. 

The Message puts it this way: When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s Cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.

Jesus Christ, Mighty God, Mighty Warrior.  And we are warriors of his light.

Fight on.  Fight hard.  It is a good fight.  Keep the faith.

Please post your thoughts below.

Your brother,

Minister Onorio