You may have heard about the bombings at the recent Boston Marathon. Two powerful bomb blasts—12 seconds and 100 yards apart—ripped into the crowds at 2:50 p.m. last Monday (April 15), killing three people (including an 8-year-old boy) and injuring 183 people, 17 of which are still in critical condition.

According to news reports, rudimentary but powerful devices made from two 1.5-gallon (6-liter) household pressure cookers designed to shoot shrapnel were filled with black powder, nails, BBs, and ball bearings, triggered by “kitchen-type” egg timers. The Boston Globe also reported that investigators have found part of a circuit board that they believe was used to trigger the explosions. These devices were hidden inside black nylon duffel bags or backpacks and left on Boylston Street near the finish line.

The destruction was horrendous. Dr. George Velmahos, head of trauma care at Massachusetts General Hospital said that most of the injuries were “traumatic amputations” in which the blasts nearly blew off one victim’s legs. He said that all of the victims had “10, 20, 30, 40 pieces of shrapnel embedded in their bodies, mostly in their legs, but as high up as their necks.” He had described the shrapnel as pea-sized pellets and nails stripped of their heads.

Even as the public poured in more than 2,000 tips and the FBI vowed to “go to the ends of the Earth” in its search, authorities speaking at an evening press conference in Boston did not announce any major break in the case. In fact, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis described the 12-block crime scene around Copley Square as the “most complex in the history of our department.”

While investigators still don’t have any idea on who caused this sick and cowardly deed, we can know who the real mastermind is. Jesus tells us who was responsible:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)

Just who is this “thief”? Jesus said: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning…” (John 8:44)

The invisible Satan is the chief terrorist. He is the real mastermind of this attack. He works through evil humans to carry out his despicable plans. They are responsible.

Thankfully, the all-powerful Christ will return and not allow Satan and his wicked assistants to get away with their evil deeds: “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” (Isaiah 13:11)

May the Kingdom of God come soon!