The apostle Paul affirmed to the Ephesians that God’s plan of salvation for man was devised long before he walked on the earth. Paul wrote, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Since this is so, it is not surprising that there are indications given of that plan early in man’s history. Shortly after the fall of man, as God related the consequence of the sin committed, he said to the tempter (in serpent form), “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:14-15). While the animosity between man and snake is evident, as is the reality of their legless existence, Bible students understand the greatest significance is spiritual, derived from the words found in verse 15. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise heel.” Notice that the references to the Seed of woman, both in the designation and the pronouns that accompany it, are all capitalized. That is because the translators (NKJ) recognize this to be a Messianic prophecy, shadowing the, at that time, future battle between Satan and Jesus Christ.
It was a horrible day when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and the presence of the Lord. However, even as the curses were pronounced, there was the intimation of hope — a hope realized in the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Consider the imagery present in the text of Genesis 3:15. Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, begotten of the Holy Spirit, the eternal One, came in the flesh over 2,000 years ago. John writes, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). However, as John reveals, men “loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20). The end of Christ’s time on earth was death by crucifixion — a wound to His heel.
However, as Peter proclaimed to the Jews in that first gospel sermon, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proclaimed His victory over Satan — dealing him a mortal wound to his head. As Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
As a wonderful conclusion to this thought, consider Paul’s words, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19). From before time God had determined, through the Seed of woman, to save the world. His great scheme of redemption for man was accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
