Treading Upon Serpents

The Bible’s Skull-Crushing Storyline & How the Sunday Liturgy is a Micro-Chronic Retelling

The Bible is a grand narrative centered on the crushing of the chaos dragon’s head—a theme of ultimate victory over the serpent that weaves throughout scripture, fulfilled in Christ and shared by His people.

When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God issued a prophetic promise in Genesis 3:15: the woman’s seed would crush the serpent's head. This decree set the stage for a recurring motif of head-crushing as a symbol of God's triumph over evil forces throughout the biblical story.

In the book of Judges, Jael, a seemingly ordinary woman, fulfilled this pattern by driving a tent peg through the head of Sisera, the Canaanite general, delivering Israel from oppression (Judges 4). This act was not just a military victory but a prefiguration of the crushing of the serpent—Sisera’s defeat echoes the crushing of the chaos dragon, the ancient enemy of God's people.

Similarly, David’s defeat of Goliath continues this symbolic act of crushing the head of evil. David, a young shepherd, not only slayed the giant with a stone but decisively cut off Goliath's head with the giant's own sword (1 Samuel 17). This act foreshadows an even greater victory to come—the crushing of the ultimate serpent.

Christ, the promised seed of the woman, fulfills the ancient promise on the cross. At Golgotha, which means “place of the skull,” the head-crushing theme comes full circle. According to Jewish tradition, the head of Goliath was kept at Golgotha, connecting David’s victory to Christ’s. On the cross, Christ dealt the fatal blow to Satan, the serpent of old, by triumphing over sin and death. In that moment, the chaos dragon’s head was eternally crushed, fulfilling the promise given in Eden and securing victory for all who are in Him.

This victory is not limited to Christ alone but is shared by all who are united to Him. As the Apostle Paul writes, believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), and through union with Him, we share in His triumph over sin, death, and Satan. Christ's victory becomes our victory, and as the Psalmist declares, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20).

In this way, the people of God, through their union with Christ, are empowered to tread upon serpents (Luke 10:19) and share in the cosmic victory over the forces of darkness. This victory is not merely spiritual or symbolic—it is the assured outcome of Christ's reign, as He puts all His enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). Through faithful obedience, empowered by grace, Christians are called to live as conquerors in Christ, participating in His victory and advancing His kingdom, all to the glory of God.

In the weekly Sunday liturgy, this story is ritually retold—a microcosmic reenactment of the great narrative of redemption. The liturgy is a micro-chronicle of creation, fall, redemption, and victory, guiding us into the heart of this cosmic battle. As we confess our sins, we acknowledge our need for Christ’s head-crushing victory over sin and death. Through the absolution, we experience the crushing of the serpent’s accusations and the declaration of forgiveness, symbolizing the serpent’s defeat in our own lives.

We are then brought into the Holy of Holies, where we stand in the presence of the Triune God, joining the heavenly hosts in worship as His gathered people. This is the place where the council of God resides, the throne room of the universe, from which He rules all creation. In worship, we partake in the victory of Christ, proclaiming His lordship and the defeat of the powers of darkness.

Finally, in the Eucharist, we eat of the Tree of Life, a foretaste of the eternal feast in the new creation. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is the tangible expression of Christ’s victory, as we partake of His body and blood, the very life that was given to crush the serpent's head. By this sacred meal, we are nourished in His victory and strengthened to go forth as conquerors in His name, carrying out the mission of the Church.

In this way, the Lord’s Day worship is not merely a religious routine but a covenantal renewal, where God reaffirms His promises to us, and we, as His people, recommit to walking in His victory. We are reminded that through Christ’s definitive act on the cross, the serpent’s head is crushed, and we, as those united to Him, share in that victory. Strengthened by the Word and sacrament, we are sent out into the world as a royal priesthood, equipped to tread on serpents, overcome evil with good, and bear witness to the cosmic reign of our victorious King, Jesus Christ.

Thus, the Sunday liturgy is a microcosmic retelling of the greatest story ever told, a reminder that Christ has triumphed over the forces of chaos and death, and that His people, united to Him, live in the ongoing reality of that triumph.