Triumph

Colossians 2:15

Read

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
(Colossians 2:15, ESV)

Explain

Paul gives us a full and sweeping view of salvation. Not only has Christ raised us to life, and paid our debt; He has defeated our enemies. Christ has done it all. He did the work completely, leaving nothing unfinished.

On the cross, to the eyes of the world, it looked like the execution of a common criminal. Roman soldiers mocked. Jewish leaders sneered. The crowd passed by wagging their heads. Yet to those who looked with the eyes of faith, the cross was a cosmic, earth-shattering event. The King of heaven, as He was being crushed, was crushing His enemies.

This is the one of the great paradoxes of scripture. As the suffering servant defeated sin, death, and demons through His own death. As Christ hung naked and in shame, He was disarming rulers and authorities and putting them to shame. The tragedy of the cross was, in reality, the triumph of the Lamb.

If there is one thing to take away from this verse, it is that the cross is much more than just Jesus dying in our place. That is gloriously true—but it is only a sliver of the full glory of the cross. At Calvary, the entire plan of God’s salvation was fulfilled. It was the climax of world history. It was the substance behind the shadows of the Old Testament sacrifices. It was freedom to the captive, life to the dead, honor to the shamed. It is everything in the Christian life.

So what does it mean that Christ “disarmed rulers and authorities”? Paul is speaking about the spiritual powers—the demonic forces, the enemies of God’s people, and the dark systems of the world aligned against Christ. The application is endless.

For the persecuted Christian, this truth is fuel for endurance. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:10–11, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

In Matthew 10, Jesus prepared His disciples for what was to come: “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (v. 22). And later in the same chapter He told them, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (v. 28).

So how can Paul say that Christ disarmed rulers and authorities if the nations still rage and the church still suffers? Because their defeat is sure. Their weapons have been stripped away. Their doom is sealed.

Let me give you a picture. Yesterday while mowing my grass, I spotted three copperheads sunbathing together on the creek bank. Our neighbors live just fifty feet away, and their toddler often plays in that creek. I grabbed my .410 shotgun and killed two of the three snakes. Even after I shot them, for hours their bodies still quivered and twisted around.

That is exactly how Paul wants us to see the enemies of Christ. The serpent has been crushed. Christ has already stomped the head of our dreadful foe. But we are still living in the death throes of Satan and his forces. They writhe and squirm, but their end is certain.

The cross was not weakness—it was victory. Our Lord has triumphed. The rulers of this age may still make noise. They may still rage. But their teeth are pulled, their weapons removed, their authority stripped away.

And notice how Christ triumphed. Not by earthly power. Not by a display of military force. Not by political strength. Revelation gives us the image: John hears the roar of a mighty lion, but when he turns, he sees a Lamb standing as though slain. It is the Lamb who triumphed over sin and death—not by force, but by sacrifice.

And if the Lamb has triumphed, then we have no need to submit ourselves to man-made religion, festivals, rules, or regulations. We do not need to fight for victory; we fight from victory. Christ has done it all.

Apply

So what does this mean for us, right here and now?

For the persecuted Christian, take heart. Christ has already disarmed your enemies. The nations may rage, governments may threaten, neighbors may revile—but at the cross they were put to shame. Their power is broken. When you suffer for Christ, you are not losing—you are sharing in His triumph.

For the fearful Christian, Fear not. The serpent still writhes, but his head is crushed. His tail may thrash, but he cannot condemn you. His accusations are silenced at the cross. Though the world can hurt the body, it cannot touch the soul, for you are hidden with Christ in God.

Live free. Too often we live as if Christ’s victory were partial, as if we still need to earn, strive, or add to what He accomplished. But hear Paul clearly: He triumphed. He disarmed. He put them to shame. That means we can rest in His finished work. We don’t need to add ascetic practices, special days, or man-made rules to prove ourselves. Christ has done it.

The cross was not tragedy—it was triumph. The Lamb who was slain is the Lion who roars. And if Christ has already won the victory, then Christian, you can keep walking forward in faith, knowing the end is secure.