Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 30, 2025

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How Did Jesus Destroy the Power of Death Through His Own Death?

Hebrews 2:14 states, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.” This verse is part of a profound passage that explains how Jesus, by taking on human nature, fulfilled Jehovah’s plan of redemption by destroying the power of death and delivering mankind from bondage. Hebrews 2:14 highlights the necessity of Christ’s incarnation, the purpose of His death, and the ultimate defeat of the devil’s power over death. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus nullified the authority of Satan and opened the way for eternal life for all who obey the gospel.

The verse begins, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.” This phrase emphasizes the incarnation of Christ—the moment when the eternal Son of God took on human nature. The term “children” refers to believers, the spiritual offspring of Abraham, mentioned earlier in Hebrews 2:13: “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” These children, being human, are described as possessing “flesh and blood,” a Hebraic expression denoting human mortality and physicality. Since humanity was enslaved by sin and subject to death, the solution required that the one who would redeem mankind must fully participate in human nature.

The phrase “he too shared in their humanity” affirms that Jesus did not merely appear human—He fully took on human flesh, experiencing the limitations, suffering, and temptations that come with it. The Greek word for “shared” (meteschēken) conveys the idea of taking part in, emphasizing Christ’s complete identification with humanity. Philippians 2:7–8 echoes this truth: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death.” Without assuming human nature, Jesus could not have provided a sacrifice for sin, making His incarnation an essential part of Jehovah’s plan of redemption.

The next clause, “so that by his death,” points directly to the purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. He took on human flesh in order to die. His death was not an unfortunate accident or the result of human conspiracy—it was the deliberate fulfillment of Jehovah’s eternal plan to save humanity from sin and death. Hebrews 9:26 affirms this: “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Jesus’ death was the means by which divine justice was satisfied, and through that sacrifice, He accomplished what no one else could—the defeat of death and the devil.

The phrase “he might break the power of him who holds the power of death” explains the result of Jesus’ sacrificial death. The Greek word for “break” (katargēsē) means to render ineffective, to nullify, or to abolish. It does not mean annihilation but refers to the removal of power, rendering Satan’s hold over humanity powerless. Satan’s “power of death” does not mean that he had ultimate control over death but that he wielded influence and authority through the fear of death and the bondage caused by sin.

Satan’s power over death is rooted in sin, which separates humanity from Jehovah and results in death as the ultimate consequence. Romans 6:23 makes this clear: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” By introducing sin into the world through deception (Genesis 3:1–6), Satan gained power over humanity through the fear of death and the judgment that follows. This fear kept humanity enslaved, living in constant dread of what lay beyond the grave.

However, Jesus broke this power by His death. Through His sacrifice, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, removing the basis of Satan’s authority over death. Colossians 2:14–15 affirms this triumph: “Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness… he disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Satan’s power was effectively neutralized because the legal demands of sin were satisfied through the death of Christ. As a result, Satan can no longer hold believers captive to the fear of death or use sin to accuse and condemn them.

The final phrase, “that is, the devil,” identifies the one who previously “held the power of death.” The term “devil” (diabolos) means slanderer or accuser, reflecting Satan’s role in accusing and deceiving humanity (Revelation 12:10). While Satan is still active in the world, his power has been decisively broken for those who are in Christ. John 12:31 proclaims, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” Satan’s final defeat is assured, and his influence is progressively being dismantled through the ongoing work of the gospel.

Hebrews 2:14 also highlights the practical implications of Jesus’ victory over death. Verse 15 follows immediately, stating that Jesus’ death was intended “to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” This means that the fear of death no longer has dominion over those who belong to Christ. Believers can now face death with confidence, knowing that eternal life awaits them. 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 celebrates this victory: “‘Death has been swallowed up in victory… Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Furthermore, this verse serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. Although Satan’s power has been broken for believers, the struggle against sin and temptation continues. 1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” However, believers can stand firm, knowing that Jesus has already secured the ultimate victory through His death and resurrection.

Ultimately, Hebrews 2:14 teaches that Jesus’ incarnation was necessary for His death, and His death was necessary to destroy the power of the devil and the fear of death. By willingly taking on human nature, Jesus provided a perfect sacrifice that broke the grip of sin, death, and Satan. His victory assures all who obey the gospel that they no longer need to live in fear, for they are now free from the bondage of death and have the hope of eternal life in Jehovah’s presence.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).