Do you know there is a Bible verse that is so significant it has been given its own name? The verse is Genesis 3:15, its English name is protoevangelium (from the Greek proto-euangelion), and it means “first gospel.”

 This verse is the curse that God pronounces on the serpent after the fall. The curse is this: “…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.”

Note there are two parts to this curse. The first part is the conflict between the serpent’s seed and Eve’s seed (offspring). Satan, in the form of the serpent, thinks he has won because he has overcome Adam and Eve. What’s really happening, though, is God is forewarning him that he has a fight on his hands. The seed of the woman, those who are faithful believers, will continue to withstand the seed of Satan.

The second part of the curse, the statement that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent, is a personal conflict with Satan. That’s why Christians throughout the ages have understood that this promise in Genesis 3:15 is actually looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and, therefore, the first message of the gospel is a promise that Christ will come to deliver us from the powers of darkness.

The promise of Genesis 3:15 is also a reminder to us as Christians that we live the Christian life in a war zone. Furthermore, it’s an assurance to us as Christians that when Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave, having previously overcome Satan in the wilderness, He gained a full victory over Satan. Today we wait for the day when that full victory will be finally realized.

This week we have been reading about broken relationships. These began in the Garden of Eden and restoration comes when Eve’s seed, the Lord Jesus, brings about victory in our lives now (as individual believers) and in all His kingdom when He returns. As we celebrate the Incarnation these next few weeks, let’s remember to also look forward to Easter and Christ’s victorious Resurrection. As we give and receive gifts, let’s focus on the greatest Gift of all, who’s coming was foretold in the protoevangelium as part of God’s gracious plan of restoration from the beginning. 

Alleluia and amen!