Didn't. Wouldn't. Couldn't.

I've been spending a bit of time on the road the past few weeks. Taking a church group to Oklahoma. Going to run a marathon in Shiprock. My daughter's graduation in Tempe. A few trips to Pagosa Springs, and once to Durango. Lots of miles. Lots of time to think. And lots of bumper stickers to read.

One sticker in particular caught my attention and has stayed on my mind. It said, "Jesus Didn't Tapout," with the Tapout logo being used in lieu of the word.

Tapout, I believe, comes from the world of mixed martial arts, which I will admit I know next-to-nothing about. It refers to that moment in a match when one person has their opponent on the mat in a position from which escape is impossible. The person "taps out" by hitting the mat as a sign of submission and defeat, ending the match.

Shifting our attention to the bumper sticker I think that the sticker intended to show that at what would seem to be certain defeat in Jesus' battle with sin and Satan, that Jesus refused to submit. The language of the sticker would suggest that Jesus could have surrendered, but didn't. Instead of submitting to Satan, Jesus achieved the defeat of sin and the redemption of all sinners who would have faith in him as their savior. This is all well and good, and basic Christian teaching about sin and salvation in Jesus.

All that time on the road and that sticker got me to thinking a bit more. Not only is it true that Jesus did not submit, but that he would not submit, and that he could not submit.

At the time in the garden, shortly before his arrest and his approaching death, Jesus prays in Luke 22:42, saying:

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done."

A hard, and likely brutal death is coming, and yet Jesus would not turn from it and its purpose in God's plan.

The second half of 1 John 3:8 says:

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

The high purpose in all the things that Jesus did while living a fully human life were not to end in defeat, but to fight a victorious battle against Satan. Jesus could not submit, no matter how fiercely the battle raged.

Tapout? Jesus did not, would not, and could not, defeating Satan and the power of sin, for your salvation. This, truly, is good news of the very best kind. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.