David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

We pray in the Lord’s prayer, “and lead us not into temptation.” Rightly we remember that “God, indeed tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.” (Luther’s Small Catechism, The Lord’s Prayer)

On this occasion, however, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to face off against the devil. He is going there to win the battle that we never could. No matter what would be thrown at Him, Jesus would resist temptation and gain the victory for us. Hunger, desire for fame, questions going to the core of His identity do not sway Jesus. The reason? Jesus is led by the Spirit.

Jesus is not out to make a name for Himself; He knows who He is: the Son of God. Jesus is not worried about His next meal: he lives by the Word of God. Jesus is not in search of the world’s riches: the cattle on a thousand hills belong to His Father. That we would learn this lesson!

Too often we’re consumed with making a name for ourselves, making certain we have our share of the world’s riches, feeding our physical hunger without a care for the deeper need for God’s word in our hearts. In those pursuits the devil easily comes to us, turns us 3 degrees off course and leads us into temptation and sin.

There are two great lessons in this story of Jesus’ temptation:

• Jesus withstood the test: He did not give in to the devil. He did not yield to the temptation – even the seemingly innocuous one of turning stones into loaves of bread. He did that as true man; living under God as we were created to live: in perfect obedience, submission, and faith. He is our righteousness we claim by faith. When we discover that we have yielded we have a Savior, who, led by the Spirit in all things, now forgives our sins.
• There is a way to defeat the devil when he comes with his temptations and accusations: hold to the Word of God. Quote the Scripture. Memorize the words of the Bible and store them in your heart. God’s word provides the strength we need to withstand the devil’s accusations and temptations.

A friend from my high school has gotten together a group on Facebook. She has connected several of us and given us an opportunity to catch up and learn about each other. In the process, I’ve learned that friends from those days have stories of pain, disappointment, and hardship. But most have found a way through life that witnesses to God’s faithfulness and healing.

Perhaps the devil has gotten the better of you from time to time. In the power of the Holy Spirit, you can face him down. He need not have the final say – by any means. He won’t with Jesus; and he won’t with any who look to Jesus as their champion, redeemer, and Lord.