Enemies, of Jesus Christ

Throughout his life Jesus Christ was opposed by both spiritual and human enemies. He overcame every enemy so that his people might be set free by his victory.

The enemies of the infant Jesus

Matthew 2:13–20 See also Matthew 2:14–20; Revelation 12:1–5

When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”

Satan as the enemy of Jesus Christ

In the temptation in the wilderness

Mark 1:12–13 parallels Matthew 4:1–11, Luke 4:1–13 See also Genesis 3:15

At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

Operating through Jesus Christ's friends

Matthew 16:22–23 See also Luke 22:3; John 13:21–27

Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Jewish leaders as enemies of Jesus Christ

They plotted to kill Jesus Christ

Matthew 12:14 parallels Mark 3:6, Luke 6:11 See also Psalm 2:2; Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 27:1; John 5:18, John 7:1, John 7:19, John 11:53; 1 Peter 2:21–24

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

They had no real reason for hating him

John 15:25 See also Psalm 35:19, Psalm 69:4

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’

Judas as the enemy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 26:14–16 See also Matthew 10:4, Matthew 10:36; Micah 7:6; Matthew 26:21–25, Matthew 26:47–50; John 13:25–27

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

The enemies of Jesus Christ succeeded in killing him in accordance with God's will

Jesus Christ was crucified

Acts 2:23 See also Matthew 27:22; Mark 15:1; John 18:28–32; Acts 3:13

He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

Jesus Christ did not retaliate but prayed for his enemies

Luke 23:34

Jesus Christ can change an enemy into a friend

Galatians 1:23 See also Acts 9:1–6, Acts 22:4–5, Acts 26:9–11; Romans 5:10; Philippians 3:18; Colossians 1:24

They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

Jesus Christ will ultimately conquer all his enemies

1 Corinthians 15:25–26 See also Psalm 2:9; Malachi 3:2; Matthew 22:44; Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34; Philippians 2:9–11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10, 2 Thessalonians 2:3–8; Hebrews 1:13, Hebrews 10:13

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.