THE TEMPTED CHRIST
Luke 4: 1-13

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 4, verses 1 through 13, particularly these words: “Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil….. When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. In our Old Testament reading for this morning, we read about the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of their slavery in Egypt. It was not their own ingenuity or genius or power that got them released — but it was God’s almighty power, working through those 10 plagues which forced Pharaoh to release God’s people and let them leave for the promised land.

In our Epistle reading, we read about the deliverance of sinners from the bondage of slavery to sin. The summation of verse 13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved.” — It is not our works, it is not our choosing, it is not our answering God’s call or opening God’s door — It is Spirit given faith and trust in the promise of God — that whoever believes in Christ shall not perish, but will have everlasting life! Just as in the Old Testament reading — deliverance is not in the power of man — but in the power of God! And it is the Gospel that is “the power of God unto Salvation…”  (Romans 1: 16)

Lent is a time of reflection. And it is a time of repentance. That’s why purple in on the Altar. That’s why the hymn of praise and the alleluia are missing from the liturgy. Lent is a time to look into our own lives to see our sin and to see our need for a Savior. One of those reflections for Lent needs to be to ask ourselves, “just how well are we dealing with the temptations of our lives?” Have we stood our ground as God’s people — or have we caved in to the temptations of the Devil, the World, and our own flesh? Sadly, we must admit that we have fallen short, we have given in to temptation, we have sinned.

So how do we find deliverance from our sins — NOT by our own power and works — but in God’s grace and mercy and power! Our Gospel lesson for today shows us how Jesus deals with the temptations of the Devil. One of the reasons Jesus HAD TO BE true man was so that he would be tempted just like you and me! And he had to be true God in order to resist those temptations and lead a perfect life.

Something that is very important to remember while we study this text is that each temptation is much deeper than the story line reveals. The temptation to change stones into bread is a much deeper spiritual problem than just providing a meal for a hungry man. It’s sort of like when you go to see the doctor, and you have a 102 degree temperature. The temperature is not the disease — it is only a symptom. Our temptations, like those of Jesus, can be symptoms of deeper spiritual problems that can only be cured, by God’s grace and love and mercy and forgiveness.

Temptation number 1: 40 days without food. Jesus was hungry! The Devil tempts Jesus, “If you are the son of God (and I doubt it), tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Provide for yourself. Make your own bread. Save yourself from hunger by your own word and deed. The deeper spiritual sin is to trust in our own power to provide our needs and earn our salvation, on our own — rather than to trust in God’s providence — God’s providing. It is the temptation to have faith in our ability to provide for ourselves rather than to have faith in God’s grace.

How did Jesus deal with that temptation? “A man doesn’t live on bread alone.” It was a quote from God’s Word — Deuteronomy 8: 3 — “He humbled you to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses reminded the Children of Israel that God had promised to take care of them on their way to the promised land — and then God backed up that promise with Manna from heaven. Our deliverance from the temptation to fear temporal sufferings like hunger, and sickness, and pain, and sorrow, and loss — is to trust God’s word of promise that he will never leave us nor forsake us. God promises if we seek first his Kingdom — then all the things that we need will be given to us. There is nothing wrong with planning for the future. There is nothing wrong with saving for the future. But our hope and our trust is in our God, who promises in his word to provide us with our daily bread.

The 2nd temptation was for power and might — “All these kingdoms I will give you, IF you worship me.” The devil likewise tempts us every day to be popular with others, to get rich in the market place, to be well liked by the “in crowd,” to be accepted at work — but all too often (not always, but often) the price tag for being popular, for being successful, and to being well liked is that we have to compromise what we know is right — to be popular and accepted we have to make a deal with the devil.

Jesus answered the temptation, again with a quotation from Deuteronomy, chapter 6: “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you!” Jesus said at another way — “you cannot serve two masters.” The devil, the world, and the sinful flesh are deceitful masters — they promise riches, happiness, wealth, and power — but give you nothing but death, eternal death. Dante’s “Inferno” records that the message above the gate to hell reads, “Forsake all hope all ye who enter here.” God, on the other hand, is the faithful shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep, and he is the one who gives life, eternal life. “Love the Lord your God, and serve him only!

The 3rd temptation was to put God and his promise to the test. The devil quoted Scripture, “God has promised that his angels will protect you, so throw yourself off this cliff.” This is a temptation to doubt God’s promise. The Devil was trying to get Jesus to doubt that God would keep his promise – to believe that God would not send his angels at all – to believe that God had lied to him. Remember doubting Thomas? “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and in his feet — and the wound in his side — I will not believe.” Do we, like Thomas, have to see a miracle before we will believe? Does God HAVE to prove himself to us?

Well, he already has. He gave His only begotten Son into death for you and for me! If he was willing to give His Son into death for us — is there anything else in all creation that he would keep from us? God has already proven His love for us in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection! We do not need more proof than that! “Do not put the Lord your God to the test!”

The final verse in today’s text is frightening! “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him UNTIL AN OPPORTUNE TIME.” Ladies and gentlemen — it’s not over until it’s over! The devil never quits! He just sits back and waits — he waits for an opportune time! Don’t give the devil an opportune time. God has claimed us as his own through the waters of Baptism, God has forgiven us our sins through his body and blood given in the Sacrament. God has given us his Word as a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. God’s means of Grace are the tools God has given to us to stand up to the Devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. Be in the Word, Remember your Baptism daily, and be regular at the Lord’s Supper — Don’t give the Devil an opportune time!

Our Father, who art in heaven! Lead us not into temptation — but deliver us from evil! Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.