Jesus brought the Great Reversal
- Elaine R Kelly
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The Bible opens with God's promise in Genesis to crush the head of the serpent-deceiver. The Bible ends with a Revelation of a pregnant woman crushing the serpent. Let's look at the many ways that Jesus has brought the Great Reversal to the world.
1. From Genesis to Revelation
This 1772 painting shows the great reversal predicted in Genesis 3 coming to its fruition in the pregnant woman of Revelation 12. The dragon, a form of serpent, is at the feet of the pregnant Mary, an image from John's Revelation where a woman is clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and with a crown of twelve stars on her head, with a dragon with seven heads at her feet. She gives birth to a son who will rule all the nations. Alchemists of the era thought that a dragon had the power to transform baser metals into pure gold, so the imagery may indicate Mary's child being transformed into the divine. Mary tramples the dragon-serpent by bearing God's son.
"Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because she was in labor, in pain from giving birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: it was a great fiery red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads... The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that when she gave birth, he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child who is to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was snatched up to God and his throne." Revelation 12:1-5 CEB
2. Mary's Song of Victory.
The Magnificat is a song of victory (Luke 1:46-56). Mary is thankful that God saw how she had been brought low, shamed and humbled by those who were proud in their inmost thoughts, and she praised God for the great reversal, for bringing down the proud and uplifting her so that all generations might call her blessed
Mary's song is like Hannah's song praising God for reversing her fortunes (1 Samuel 2:1-10). It's also a song of victory like Miriam's celebrating victory over the Egyptians (Exodus 15), and like Deborah's song of triumphing over the oppressors (Judges 5). Mary's song praises God for reversing her reputation from one of humiliation to one of honour, for triumphing over her oppressors. Her oppressors were those who were proud in their inmost hearts, those who had shamed and humbled her.
3. Simeon's prophecy of reversal.
The prophet Simeon told Mary that Jesus was destined to cause a great reversal: the falling of many and the rising of many (Luke 2:34-35).
4. Isaiah's prophecy of reversal.
Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would cause the falling of many and the rising of many; Jesus uplifts those who have been put down, and he pulls down those who have been puffed up.
"Every valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be flattened. Uneven ground will become level, and rough terrain a valley plain." Isaiah 40:4 CEB
5. God fulfills the promise made to the Serpent, reversing the Deceiver's hold on Eve's offspring by Mary's offspring
God told the serpent that it would have hostility with the woman's offspring; the Deceiver will strike at all people. Then God promises the great reversal: Eve's offspring will crush the Serpent (Genesis 3:15).
6. Jesus fulfills the promise of reversal.
Jesus fulfilled the promise to bring the Great Reversal. Jesus brings the great reversal in God's realm:
Unlike the other rabbis, who instructed only men, Jesus taught women (Luke 10:38-42, Luke 11:27-28, Matthew 28:10, John 20:17).
The unbelievers rule by being great tyrants, lording it over the weak, but whoever wishes to be great must be a servant, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:25-28).
Jesus took the role of a servant by washing the feet of his followers, and then explained that he did it as an example for us to do likewise (John 13:12-17).
Conclusion
As we prepare for Christmas, let us praise God for bringing the great reversal. It's a reversal of power, a turning away from the serpent-deceiver, and following the example of Jesus by loving and serving others. We can meditate on how to spread God's reign on earth - not by war and authoritarian rule, but by showing kindness.
It may mean the reverse of our human nature. It may mean putting the needs of others before our own. It may mean uplifting those who have been shamed or humbled, and bringing down to earth those who have puffed themselves up. Bringing the reign of peace may mean the falling of some and the rising of others. It may mean trampling on the deceivers. It may mean educating and empowering women, as Jesus did. It may mean serving others, as Jesus did. Jesus modelled a radical, unselfish, inclusive love.
Christmas is a time to remember that God fulfilled the promises of the prophets and established a new realm where we are to love one another. Jesus has brought the Great Reversal to the world.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1, A Novel (2022)
The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
Finding Her Voice from Broken to Bold, Book 3, Acts of Early Female Apostles: A Novel (2025)
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