(Based on Matthew 4, NLT) One of the most beautiful stories in the Bible is the baptism of Jesus. It is a wonderful display of one of the most common aspects of our Christian heritage. In this text, we are shown our Savior’s humanity. We also see humility as His cousin, John, resists at first, saying, “No, I need to be baptized by You, Jesus.” As Jesus emerges from the water, God speaks, confirming, “This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17 NLT) The Bible says that “immediately” the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. It was training time. I have found that sometimes, right after a mountaintop moment, I face some of my deepest, darkest valley seasons.
Preparation time for ministry is sacrificial. Denial of self and focusing on God’s will is our top priority during this time. Again, we see Jesus fully accepting His humanity and making Himself subject to earthly things. It is here, in the wilderness, during these 40 days, that our Lord is hungry. Supervillain Satan arrives on the scene with the Word of God as his ammunition, ready to take down the Superhero of the Bible, Jesus. He will soon discover that his intelligence is no match for the Power of God.
In Round One, Satan uses a necessity of life to entice Jesus. After 40 days of fasting, Jesus is hungry. Acknowledging Jesus’ power, Satan tells Jesus to use that power to feed Himself. “Turn these rocks into bread.” That seems harmless enough. It doesn’t cross any lines or break any rules. In times like these, we need to know that our enemy is aware of our weaknesses. Jesus swiftly sends a blow that defeats Satan by reminding him that “we do not live on bread alone but every word that comes from God.” Feeding ourselves when we are hungry is justifiable. Misusing power and not relying on God’s provision is not.
Jesus – 1, Satan – 0. In Round Two, we find Satan leveling up his game by using scripture to tempt Jesus. “If you are the Son of God, jump off this high cliff because ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” (After all, superheroes wear capes, right?) Without skipping a beat, Jesus’ response takes the win by refuting, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Relying on God’s protection when we need it is reasonable. Placing ourselves knowingly in harm’s way provoking a needed rescue is not.
Jesus – 2, Satan – 0. Round 3 begins with Satan promising to give all he has to Jesus if He will bow down and worship him. Not today, Satan. Get out of here. For the Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Boom. You are outta here, Satan. The world promises us much if we will worship and bow down to it. Idolatry is anything we put above our love for God. Anything we love more than God, we worship.
Following Jesus’ example, if we resist the devil, he will flee from us.
Jesus – 3. Satan – 0. The winner is, and will always be, Jesus. Because the Winner is our Victor, we have the victory!
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.