Christ The Seed Of The Woman

Luke 24:27, 44

Majority of Christian denominations in this time of the year are observing what is called the Advent. What is the Advent? “It is the first season of the liturgical calendar, defined by the last four sundays before Christmas.”

Now there are a lot of theological debates around the celebration of Christmas, but at least one thing is certain, Christ was born and that suffices. I will share an article on the Advent if you will want to read more. So this morning, in line with the season we are in, I will want to do a short series I have entitled Redemption History. Christian theology teaches that Jesus Christ was born into the world to save sinners from their sins and reconcile them to God, so that through faith in him, we will have eternal life (John 3:16).

But Jesus coming into the world was not an event that happened from the blue. It was an event spoken of and foreshadowed in the Old Testament. That means that the birth of Christ was long prophesied before he was born. One of the common places we see this is in Isaiah

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

These are some prophecies concerning the birth of Christ long before he was born. And to begin today’s series, I want us to consider for a title, Christ, The Seed Of The Woman.” This will serve as a cursory look at the Old Testament and look at where our Redemption or our Salvation began. Look back at the text we read:

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27)

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke

The Road To Emmaus

These texts we have read, outlines a conversation Jesus had with some of his disciples when he resurrected. In the first instance, two of his disciples; Cleopas and an unnamed disciple were journeying from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus on the third day of Jesus’ resurrection (v.21). They were lamenting about the events of the past three days concerning Jesus’s death and resurrection.

In this conversation, we note something common with many, if not all believers. We tend to presume our dreams and desires are God’s will for us. These disciples had their own ideas about the ministry of Jesus. To them, they saw him as a political Messiah. But this Messiah, has been killed. Brethren, Jesus didn’t come into the world to stage a political coup. He came into the world to save sinners. And this is what we are to believe. He didn’t come to make you rich. He didn’t come to make you wealthy. He came to save you. Align with that supreme mission quickly and don’t be deceived by any juicy promises.

Note something particularly important in Jesus’ interaction with these disciples. He pointed them to the Old Testament where the Scriptures speaks about him: Law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms are basically the various divisions of the Hebrew Bible, they call it Tanakh (Torah, Nevim, Ketuvim). So we could argue Jesus had an exposition of Scriptures with them and pointed them to where He is It is the first book of the Bible and of the Old Testament. It opens with the story of the origins of life. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis. 1:1).

This phrase, though brief, explains in detail the origins of life. Firstly, it tells us the world was created. Then it tells us there is a Creator behind creation who is God. From Chapter One onward, it further lays out in detail how the world was created. If you pay attention to the creation narrative a particular phrase runs through the account: “And God saw that it was good” (vv. 4;10;12;21;25). Finally, after everything, God’s own verdict about his creation was that “it was very good.” (vv.31).

The Fall

But how can a world filled with such evil, pain, disease and sorrow be good? How? Is the Scripture lying or not in touch with reality? The answer lies in the fact that there was an aberration in God’s creation plunging the world into its current state. Sin entered the world. This is what is called in Christian theology The Fall (Genesis 3). In The Fall, man disobeyed God’s command by obeying the lies of Satan thus plunging the whole human race into sin. The Fall explains our depravity. It explains the evil in the world. We are rebellious sinners separated from God, dead in sins and iniquity (Ephesians 2:1) A glance at Genesis 3 and what happened in Eden is common with us all: Covering up of sins (v.7); Alienation from God (vv.8-10); Physical and spiritual death; Refusing responsibility for our actions (vv. 12-13), Life sorrows (vv. 16-19), Tension between human (v.16); etc

Protoevangelium

What happened after the fall? Adam and Eve were driven away from Eden which paints a picture of separation from God that passed on to their posterity (v.23; Romans 3:23). However, in Eden, in the pronouncement of God’s judgement; there was a ray of hope. Simultaneously, God’s justice and mercy were seen together. And this is where our Redemption Story began. A light and ray of hope shone.

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 ESV).

Theologians call the pronouncement of judgement above the protoevangelium– the first gospel. It is the first gospel because in these words God announced his plan of salvation after the fall.

Christ The Seed of The Woman

The offspring, that is, the seed of the woman as used by the King James Version will bruise the head of the serpent and the offspring (seed of the serpent) will bruise his heel. Popularly, this has been taken by many as an enmity between snakes and humans. But that is far from the truth. Rather, it is an enmity between Satan, the spiritual Serpent and Christ ultimately. It is enmity between sin and righteousness; evil and good. On the cross, Satan bruised the heel of Christ in his crucifixion and Christ crushed Satan’s head.

Many Bible scholars have indicated that the seed of the woman can be used in the singular to refer to an individual or collectively to the people of God (Gen12:7,22:17-18, Gal 3:16). ¹ In its collective usage for the people of God, we see a thread of struggle between –good and evil—sin and righteousness throughout Scripture. Cain killed Abel, tension between Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Israel and Egypt, and indeed throughout Scripture; God’s people have been oppressed by evil. Even up till now there is a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:17).

Now as an individual, the seed of the woman points to Christ for it is in Christ that Satan was defeated. When Paul addressed the seed promised Abraham (Genesis 22:18) he points out that this seed referred to Christ: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16). In his death, the bruising of his heel, Christ won the victory over Satan and sin. So in Genesis 3:15, we see the person and ministry of Christ revealed.

The curse on the serpent in Genesis 3:14–15 sets the stage for the subsequent course of redemptive history. Obvious New Testament allusions to this passage occur in places such as Luke 10:19; Romans 16:20; and Revelation 12:17. Yet from this point in the book of Genesis, the theme of “enmity between offspring/seed” characterizes the biblical narrative. This passage is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the consummate “seed of the woman” who crushes the head of the serpent.²

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