12/24 Sermon - He Will Crush The Serpen't’s Head

He will crush the serpent’s head

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

The drama couldn’t get any better. The serpent, that ancient dragon, the enemy, had destroyed God’s perfect paradise. He tempted Adam and Eve, and they fell into sin. So, sin infected every corner and inch of God’s creation. Humans lived in sin. Death ruled. All seemed lost.

Then God entered the stage, and he spoke a mighty promise. This is the first Christmas promise! This tells us what Christmas is all about. He would send someone to crush the serpent’s head, slay the dragon, a Savior born of a woman, to destroy the devil’s work and save humankind. This is the first Christmas promise! What joy, comfort, and hope this would inspire in hearts!

But what do we see on Christmas night? A small, helpless baby. A barn. A family living in poverty. This is that serpent crusher? This is the dragon slayer? What a letdown. What a disappointment. The world has moved on from Jesus, I think, and I don’t blame it. What goodness and joy could a little infant possibly give?

The greater the message, the lowlier the messenger. This is a theme in God’s word. And it’s true tonight. Ancient words do not fail. God’s promise does not fall short. That infant accomplished something no one could imagine: He saved us. Jesus shed his blood and died on the cross to cover our sin and so crushed the serpent’s head. He rose from the grave to give life everlasting and so slayed the dragon.

I’ve called Satan a couple different names tonight: serpent, dragon, snake. In Hebrew, those names are all pretty much the same. He’s called the Devil, the Father of Lies because he lies to us as he tempts us to disobey God. But Satan’s chief name is this: accuser. Satan lies to us, tempts us to sin, then slithers his way into our hearts and accuses us for the sin that we commit, day after day.

- You can almost hear his words: How could you have done that? You’re horrible. No one will forgive you. God would never love you.

- If people knew the real you, no one would like you.

- Everyone thinks you’re a failure. You don’t measure up. You’re not enough.

- That voice, Satan, accuses us because our lives are full of sin. We hurt others, we’re selfish, we rebel against God. The serpent accuses and attacks us. Is there any hope?

Remember that 1st Christmas promise. He will crush the serpent’s head.

- That is how Jesus crushed the serpent’s head, slayed the ancient dragon, and destroyed the devil’s work. He took away Satan’s power to accuse us for our sin.

- Someone had to pay for our sin, and Jesus. His blood covers our guilt, he paid our price, he died our death. Satan is right, we sin. But Jesus takes away that sin.

- So when the serpent accuses us, say this, “Yeah, I sinned. I am horrible. You’re right Satan, God shouldn’t forgive me. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Jesus took my sin on the cross and died in my place. Now I am clothed with Jesus’ salvation and holiness. I sin, but Jesus saves me.” 

What is Christmas all about? The other stuff is great. Family, food, friendship. But all that is second. But remember that first Christmas promise. Jesus is first.  

- On this night our Savior was born. He crushed the serpent’s head, took away our sin, and gives us life everlasting.