The history of man is a history of bloodshed. From the opening pages of Genesis to the closing passages of Revelation, man’s blood flows like crimson tributaries springing from the Serpent’s lie.
Kingdom’s rise and fall with this tide of gore, and Pride is the only tyrant who manages to keep his throne throughout man’s violent story of upheaval. Pride reigns under every flag and rules over every land. Whether in the heart of a North Korean despot or the mind of an American protester, Pride’s tentacled grip will not release the spirits of men and women. Pride slithers and swarms like those fabled flying serpents – it lays its cockatrice eggs in every thought and intent of man and broods over its spawn with sinister patience. Every human heart is an incubator of horror. No person goes uninfected. Every man lives in the long, dark shadow of this greatest of all sins.
Every man except for One.
The Humble One. The Meek and Lowly One. Jesus Christ, the Son of God who humbled Himself by taking on flesh and becoming a man. He who was Life and Truth lived amongst our race of proud murderers and liars. He came unto His own, and His own received him not – instead, they killed Him. They killed Him as they did so many others – those that stood in their way, those that inconvenienced them, those that threatened their power, those that challenged their pride.
Christ’s death may read like a familiar trope within the chronicles of human drama: an oppressive government manipulated by power-hungry liars and cheaters killed a man who did nothing wrong. But as commonplace as His death may sound, it is astoundingly unique. Amongst all the death and destruction of the centuries of war and violence is this One whose broken body and shed blood will bring peace. His death was not just another casualty of man’s pride, it was the Final Sacrifice, the Great Victory.
He died; He was buried; but He rose again.
Pride has been dethroned.
Death has been defanged.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has prevailed. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He assumes his throne, not through violence and pride, but because “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
And He is returning for His people, who shall live with Him eternally in a Kingdom of peace, safety, and love.
Repent and believe the Gospel.
Joe Cassada 