What is the very first image and prophecy we have of Christ?
It isn't that of a prophet, a priest, or a king.
It isn't that of a tabernacle, or feast, or an exodus.
It is that of a warrior. It is that of a Hero. It is that of "the Promised Snake-Crusher."
Not a picture of Jesus. I refused to violate the Second Commandment by putting up pictures of Jesus But this is Sir George slaying a dragon. So, you get the idea.
It is that of a royal heir come to undo the curse. It is the picture of a divine warrior born into creation, come to defeat a pretend nemesis: a crafty angel who has taken the form of a snake. And the Lord gave us this prophet EARLY. Really early. Not even out of the garden - early. In Genesis - not 50 - but Genesis 3.
Think about that. Genesis 1: creation with man as the apex. Genesis 2: the covenant of work in Eden. Genesis 3: the Fall of man into sin and judgment. And God's promises, love, and mercy come so quickly, so thoroughly, that mid-way through Genesis 3 the first announcement of the gospel comes.
Genesis 3:12-15 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." (13) Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (14) The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. (15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
Genesis 3:15 is called in theology "the proto-evangelium." "proto" meaning "first," "evangelium" meaning "gospel."
Think about that. Before Cain, before Abel - Jesus is talked about. Before Adam and Eve's sins were covered - Jesus is talked about. Before Noah, Abraham, or Moses, God talks about Jesus.
And I want you to notice a few things. First, the promise of Jesus as the Snake-Crusher came, not to Adam or Eve, but as a pronouncement of cursing on the Snake. That's important. The Messiah will crush a cursed one; a cursed snake. Second, the promise of the Snake-crusher against the Snake makes the snake "cursed above all livestock!" No one is more cursed than Satan. Of all creatures he is the one who is under the malediction of the Judge of the Universe the highest degree. Hell doesn't make unbelieving sinners first. Satan is most cursed. Third, Jesus will defeat him in a humbled state under the curse. But his curse goes further. As much as we might bemoan the state of the church in America today, Fourth, the church - wherever it is - is in a state of perpetual war against the Snake and his heirs. But more than that, and much more devastating than that, is that the Snake is in perpetual war with the woman's offspring. Now, this is a big deal. Because the serpent can win just find against the church. But the heir of the woman, the heir of the church - Jesus, the Christ - born within God's people, born of God's people, He always wins against the serpent. But, Fifth, it appears that there will be a specific time, for a specific conflict. There will be an ultimate tete a tete. And in this battle, the heir will be dealt a significant blow. His foot will be substantially wounded. He'll sustain a significant wound. Yet, that heir will deliver a crushing blow to the snake. A wound so severe it will crush - not bruise - his skull. This will be a mortal blow.
What ever happened to the fulfillment of this prophecy?
Did it ever occur?
Well, we'd need a woman giving birth - a real heir - and we' need someone coming as a warrior. Hmmmm. Are there not other Old Testament prophecies that speak to this reality? Actually, yes! It appears the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 is elaborated on by the Holy Spirit using Isaiah.
Isaiah 7:13-15 And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? (14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (15) He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
So not only will be he a warrior. He will be "God with Us." And his mother will be a virgin. This was a sign given to the people of Israel 700 years before Jesus came, as a reason not to trust Assyria, but to trust the Lord, to trust and rest in the coming Messiah.
But what is interesting is that the idea of the Messianic Warrior does indeed get wrapped up into the idea of the Messianic King.
Psalms 45:3-6 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! (4) In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! (5) Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you. (6) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
You see him also in Isaiah 40: conquering and protecting
Isaiah 40:10-11 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. (11) He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
You see him in Psalm 2 defeating all his enemies and taking possession of all the world as his inheritance.
Psalms 2:1-9 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, (3) "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." (4) He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. (5) Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, (6) "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." (7) I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. (8) Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. (9) You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
And Jesus even presents himself as this one to defeats his enemy, and then plunders his house:
Matthew 12:25-29 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (26) And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (27) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (28) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (29) Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
But is the prophecy ever readdressed? Yes! It was embraced by the apostles and the church!
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Revelation 20:1-3 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. (2) And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, (3) and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.
Behold, church, Beloved of the Lord, your King, your Husband, is a Warrior, mighty in battle. And he is "the Snake Crusher."