“古蛇”，魔鬼，撒但，藉此受了审判
当基督在十字架上被举起，撒但，魔鬼，古蛇就受到了对付（约十二31-33，来二14）。这就是说，堕落之人里面的蛇性藉基督的死受到对付。有一天主耶稣穿上了这罪之肉体的样式，然后将这肉体带到十字架上，将它钉死。藉着钉死肉体，祂就毁坏了那将自己注射到人里面的魔鬼。
现在我们能领会希伯来二章十四节的话，那里说，“祂也照样亲自有分于血肉之体，为要藉着死，废除那掌死权的，就是魔鬼。”基督在肉体里，藉着祂的死废除了撒但。基督如何在十字架上废除撒但?乃是藉着穿上罪之肉体的样式，并将这肉体带到十字架上。在那里，藉着祂被钉十字架，撒但就被废除了。
在神眼中，我们都已成了蛇。就如古时的以色列人成了蛇，需要一条铜蛇被举起作他们的代替，我们也需要基督死在十字架上，作我们的代替。在十字架上基督不单是神的羔羊，除去世人的罪（约一29）；祂也是在蛇的形状里，好对付我们的蛇性，并废除那古蛇。当基督在十字架上被举起的时候，在堕落之人里面的蛇性就受了对付。当人接受这位被钉死又复活的基督，叫他因基督里那神圣的生命得着重生，他那属撒但的性情也必须受到对付。
尼哥底母可能自认是个有道德的好人，但主在三章十四节的话含示，无论尼哥底母外面多好，他里面仍有撒但的蛇性。他是亚当的后裔，被古蛇毒害了，里面有了蛇性。他不仅需要主作神的羔羊除去他的罪，也需要主成为蛇的形状，在十字架上对付他的蛇性，使他得着永远的生命。照二章所立定的原则，这就是变死亡为生命。
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The Serpent of Old Judged – Heb. 2:14
“The Serpent, of Old” the Devil, Satan, Judged
When Christ was lifted up on the cross, Satan, the devil, the serpent, of old was dealt with (John 12:31–33; Heb. 2:14). This means that the serpent’s nature within fallen man was dealt with through Christ’s death. One day the Lord Jesus put on the likeness of the flesh of sin, then brought this flesh to the cross and nailed it there. By crucifying the flesh, He destroyed the devil who had injected himself into man.
Now we can understand the verse in Hebrews 2:14: “He also Himself in like manner partook of the same [blood and flesh], that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil.” In the flesh, Christ, through His death, nullified Satan. How did Christ destroy Satan on the cross? It was by putting on the likeness of the flesh of sin and bringing this flesh to the cross. There, through His crucifixion, Satan was nullified.
In God’s eyes, we have all become serpents. Just as the Israelites became serpents and needed a bronze serpent to be lifted up as their substitute, we also need Christ to die on the cross as our substitute. On the cross Christ was not only the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29); He was also in the form of the serpent to deal with our serpentine nature and to destroy the ancient serpent. When Christ was lifted up on the cross, the serpent nature within fallen man was dealt with. When a person receives the crucified and resurrected Christ and is regenerated with the divine life in Christ, his satanic nature must also be dealt with.
Nicodemus might have considered himself a moral and upright man, but the Lord’s words in John 3:14 implied that no matter how good Nicodemus appeared outwardly, inwardly he still possessed Satan’s serpent nature. He was a descendant of Adam, poisoned by the serpent of old, and had the serpent’s nature within. He needed not only the Lord as the Lamb of God to take away his sin, but also the Lord in the form of the serpent on the cross to deal with his serpent nature so that he might have eternal life. According to the principle established in John chapter 2, this is to turn death into life.