Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
In 1215, King John of England faced a powerful threat to his throne. Ten years of fruitless war with France had exhausted the country, and a crushing defeat of John’s army in 1214 led to a humiliating surrender. The nation’s economy was in shambles, and the prospect of further tax increases sparked a rebellion among many of the nobles. John was known for arbitrary rulings and for acting as though he were above the law. His unpopularity fueled a revolt that quickly spread and took control of much of the country.
In an effort to save his crown, John arranged a meeting with the rebel leaders at Runnymede. There they forced him to accept a document that came to be known as the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”), which placed limits on his authority and required the king to govern according to the law. Though born out of a political crisis, Magna Carta later became one of the foundations of the English tradition that even rulers are subject to the law. John signed the charter reluctantly, knowing he would lose the crown if he refused.
Throughout history, even the proudest rulers or most powerful despots have eventually been forced to acknowledge authority greater than their own. The devil has been working in opposition to God ever since he was cast out of Heaven for his rebellion. That defeat did not cause him to give up, and he has continued the battle ever since. We see the reality of that battle every day in our lives. Yet there is no question how the battle will end. One day the devil will be forced to admit that he is defeated and bow before the Lord as he receives his punishment. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
