Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Jesus was in the desert for 40 days being tempted by the devil. The devil tested Jesus but Jesus would pass and make the devil even more angry. Satan tried everything to tempt the Lord but the Lord Jesus Christ would say, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Or “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord, your God and Him only you shall serve” and even, “It has been said, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” The Lord Jesus Christ shall never be tempted by the devil or anyone else.
If you have ever been tempted by someone or something you would know how hard it is to not fall into it. You and I cannot stop the things that tempt us but the Lord can help us. By His dying on the cross to save us we are free from sin, death, and the devil. Unlike the Lord, we cannot fight the demons that come to destroy us but Jesus the Lord can command these demons to flee and leave a clean spirit inside of us – His Holy Spirit.
-Carissa Schultz
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever.
Lord God, our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and, when we fall, raise us up again and restore us through your Son.
Sources:
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
Collect for the 1st Sunday in Lent – Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Collect for the 1st Sunday in Lent – Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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