For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
— 1 John 3:8
WHAT ARE THE WORKS of the devil? They are those works that separated the man of the tombs (Mark 5:2) from his family and from the rest of the society and so tormented him that he cut himself with stones. The works of the devil are those demons which filled the boy in Mark chapter 9 and made him gnash his teeth, convulse, and foam at the mouth—those spirits that threw him repeatedly into both fire and water, trying to kill him.
JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.
Make no mistake about it; Satan hates you and wants to destroy you. He will try in every way possible to deceive you onto a path that leads to death—a path of rebellion against God. Jesus warned us that the devil has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). He will rob you of a blessed life. He will kill your relationship with God and with others. He will destroy your reputation, and ultimately, your life. Though his recruiting strategies are tempting, those who join forces with him will share his destiny.
One of those works of the devil is the power of death. But Jesus destroyed that power by bringing us eternal life. In contrast to Satan’s destructive goals for you, Jesus came “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Father, we are so grateful for Your love. Thank You for sending Your Son into the world to destroy the works of the devil—for sending Jesus into the world to give us life eternal in Your Kingdom.
Amen.