Years ago, tv, radio, and social media was lit up with stories about “the war on Christmas!” Commentators and many Christians lamented the fact that our society was no longer saying “Merry Christmas” but merely, “Happy Holidays” during this festive season. There are some obvious cultural reasons for this shift—not all of them bad, in my opinion.
But we should be clear that any concerns about a war on Christmas should be grounded in a concern about a war on Christ. And that has been going on since the beginning of creation itself.
Not long after creation, humanity rebelled against God and brought all of creation under God’s curse. Part of that curse would be a struggle—a war—between the offspring of the woman (those who live a life of faith) and the offspring of the serpent (those who live a life of rebellion). This conflict is promised to persist until one specific Offspring crushes the head of the serpent himself (Gen 3:15). That Offspring would be the Lord Jesus Christ.
But his birth was far off from those final moments in Eden. In the meantime, this war between the offspring would begin to rage.
We see it first in the murder of Abel by his brother, Cain. Through Cain, Satan tries to end the offspring of Eve through death (John 8:44). But the Lord raises up another in his place, Seth. This war continues and Satan tries another tactic—diluting the godly line through intermarriage with unbelievers (Gen 6:1–8). And this was also almost successful in wiping out the line, but God rescued the offspring through Noah.
These twin tactics of death and dilution show up again and again through the history of God’s people as Satan makes war on the godly offspring of the woman. God rescues believers through the dominating offspring of the devil by scattering them at Babel and calling Abraham into the line of promise. He uses Joseph to save his people from starvation, midwives in Egypt to save them from death, and Moses to rescue them from extinction through slavery. Even as the godly in Israel are nearly overwhelmed by the ungodly as they do whatever is right in their own eyes (Judg 21:25), the Lord raises up a godly king after his own heart, David. He not only conquers Israel’s enemy who is covered in snake-scale armor (1 Sam 17:1–54), but continued to deliver them from all their enemies, shepherding them well (1 Chron 18:13–4).
Yet, the battle was far from over. As David’s descendants drifted away from a heart of belief, they allowed the offspring of the serpent to gain the upper hand. Sins of idolatry and violations of God’s covenant brought judgment which threatened the faithful in Israel. The godly line of offspring was diminished. Some were killed, others were exiled, but the Lord preserved some and they returned to the land.
Thus, this battle of the offspring continued right up to the birth of Jesus, the true Israelite. Shortly after he came into the world, honored as the promised Christ by angels, shepherds, and pagan magi, his life was threatened. But shouldn’t have been surprising. After all, he is the seed of the woman. He is the fulfillment of all God’s covenant long promises (2 Cor 1:20). He is the One in whom all of God’s people will experience salvation. End his life and the battle is won! Yet, God warned Joseph and Jesus escaped the slaughter in Bethlehem (Matt 2:13–18). The godly seed of the woman was saved from the serpent’s fangs!
But not for long.
For Jesus’ victory over his enemies comes through his death for his people—the offspring of the woman. In an ironic, unexpected twist that few could comprehend, Jesus would gain total victory in the battle of the seed by dying on the cross (Col 2:12–15). There he would crush the head of the serpent and defeat death itself. By bringing upon himself God’s judgment against his people, he also secured their victory in this battle of the offspring (Rev 12:9–12).
Just as Isaiah said that he would be “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities,” it was promised: “he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isa 53:5, 10). Though Satan rages against God’s people, their final victory is secure through the death and resurrection of Christ (Rev 12:17). His victory is our victory! Like the Romans, we know that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20).
This Christmas, as you face all manner of spiritual conflict—sickness, suffering, and temptations to unbelief—be encouraged by Christ’s victory for us. The real war was been won. Therefore, we have every strength and confidence to walk by faith against schemes of our defeated foe. And, perhaps, more sweetly sing songs that proclaim truths like,
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
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