Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The basis for God\u2019s Word to us today is our Gospel reading.<\/p>\n
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Let us pray…Speak O Lord your words of life to us and may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus\u2019 name we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Beth and I were married in May and our honeymoon not only involved a couple of weeks out on the West Coast, but also a couple of months up in Whitehorse where I filled in for a pastor who had gone south on vacation.<\/p>\n
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Now if you\u2019ve never been to Whitehorse, it is a sprawling city covering more than 400 square kilometers and straddling the Alaska Highway for some 27 kilometers. It is made up of little pockets of populated areas nestled in the hills and we lived in one of those neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One day we decided to hike up a hill in our neighbourhood, leading to the CBC tower. We wondered what was on the other side and when we got to the top we discovered the reality of our lives, that we were living on the edge of a vast wilderness. From there we could see for miles and there was nothing but bush and lakes.<\/p>\n
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Perhaps that\u2019s not the exact image of the wilderness Jesus was immediately pushed out into by the Holy Spirit after he was baptized but like any Canadian wilderness, the wilderness of Judea was not a friendly place.<\/p>\n
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Now each year, on the first Sunday in Lent, we read of this wilderness event early in Jesus\u2019 ministry. For forty days he is fasting in that harsh and lonely terrain.<\/p>\n
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You may be aware that Jesus\u2019 time in the wilderness parallels the experience of ancient Israel, when they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. In one sense Jesus is Isreal in a nutshell, Israel personified and yet unlike Israel, Jesus is the one true Israelite \u2013 the one who gets it right.<\/p>\n
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I\u2019m sure you can probably recall how many times Israel got it wrong in wilderness of Sinai, and if there was one common temptation Israel faced as they wandered those forty years, that temptation was to grumble and complain about almost everything. And as you know, they gave in to that temptation all too often.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You can almost hear them expressing the same sentiments over and over again: \u201cWhy is God making this journey so difficult for us?\u201d \u201cWhy is God giving us the same food every day!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now fast forward to Jesus\u2019 situation in the wilderness and what is his response? Just imagine, he literally had nothing to eat during those forty days, and it was within that growing hunger that Satan came to tempt him. However, unlike Israel Jesus would be faithful. He would not grumble or complain.<\/p>\n
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It’s pretty easy to think of Jesus as some superhero, some Marvel comic character who never has to eat or go to the bathroom, who isn\u2019t like us with all our neediness. But when we confess that Jesus is both truly God and truly man, this means that he had a very real body, with the same needs and desires that you and I have. So naturally this prolonged fast made Jesus very hungry. And this is exactly when the devil strikes, just as he strikes us when we\u2019re vulnerable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The devil said to Jesus,
\n\u201cIf you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s pause here for just a moment because there\u2019s a lot here to consider. Starting with that little word, \u201cif.\u201d What does the devil mean by, \u201cIf you are the Son of God?\u201d Is the devil denying that Jesus is the Son of God? <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In our English translation it might sound like: \u201cIf you were the Son of God\u2013which you aren\u2019t\u2013then. . . .\u201d I understand that in the original Greek there is a way to say that kind of \u201cif\u201d, but this is not it. No, the devil is not that in your face. He\u2019s far more subtle and likes to more often, come in the back door or the side door.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When the devil says \u201cif\u201d he is not denying that Jesus is God\u2019s Son. Instead, it\u2019s quite the opposite. The devil knows full well that Jesus is God\u2019s Son and so this \u201cif\u201d is more like our \u201csince\u201d: \u201cSince you are the Son of God,\u201d then. . . .\u201d And this sets Jesus up for what follows.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You see, the devil\u2019s temptation is not in proving or disproving that Jesus is the Son of God, but in doing something about it. \u201cIf you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Notice the subtleness of the temptation: \u201cSo God says you\u2019re his Son, does he? That\u2019s what he said at your baptism, wasn\u2019t it? \u2018You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.\u2019 Well, if you\u2019re so beloved, then why has God sent you out here into this God-forsaken wilderness? Why is he letting you go hungry like this? What kind of \u2018loving Father does this? Doesn\u2019t God\u2019s Son deserve better than this?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how the devil operates, kind of from the side, usually not head-on. The devil wants you to doubt that God really cares about you. He wants you to get the wrong idea about God. He wants you to believe that God is some mean old grouch who\u2019s holding out on you and wanting to spoil your fun. Isn\u2019t that how the devil worked on Adam and Eve.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perhaps like the similarities between Jesus forty days in the wilderness and Israel\u2019s forty years in the wilderness, now there\u2019s a kind replaying of that original temptation. In fact, in Luke\u2019s record of Jesus ancestry, he traces it all the way back to Adam. So maybe he wants us to have that episode in mind and make the comparison between Adam and Jesus. Jesus as the one true man, the second Adam, the one who overcomes the devil and gets it right.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Again, just think of the similarities between these two accounts. Adam was in a garden. Jesus is in a wilderness. The devil comes at Adam and Eve somewhat indirectly, wanting them to doubt God\u2019s goodness. And he comes at them through\u2013guess what\u2013food, something to eat. \u201cYou know that tree there, the one God told you not to eat from? Why would he do that? Why would he tell you not to eat from it? I mean, it looks like a perfectly good tree. And, hey, didn\u2019t God put you in charge of this place? <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Then why would he not let you eat from this one tree? Is God is holding out on you. Does God really care about you. Now look at that fruit there. Doesn\u2019t it look good? Go on, you know you want it. Come on, take matters into your own hands. Go for it!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hasn\u2019t Satan come at you sometimes that way? Does the devil whisper in your ear like this? I bet he does because this is his standard M.O. \u2013 modus operandi. He wants to get you to doubt God\u2019s goodness, to doubt God\u2019s word, to be your own God, to make your own decisions about what\u2019s right for you, because you deserve it. It\u2019s what you want, isn\u2019t it? <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The temptation is always to be your own God, to be independent of that mean old guy in the sky who wants to spoil your fun.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And I guess you can take some comfort in knowing that you\u2019re not the first to fall for it. Adam and Eve fell for that temptation\u2013and that was a big fall! Upon them fell the curse, and death came into the world so that we hear those words: \u201cDust you are, and to dust you shall return.\u201d That\u2019s our destiny because of sin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Death comes down to us. But Jesus came to reverse that curse, to do something about the sin and the death and all the misery that comes in its wake.<\/p>\n
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So, this is the devil\u2019s play out there in the wilderness. He wants to stop Jesus before he gets started saving people. And he tries to use the same slippery approach on Jesus that seemed to work so well on Adam. You can almost hear him\u2026\u201cGod doesn\u2019t care about you. You\u2019re hungry. You\u2019re entitled. You can do something about it. Go for it. \u201cIf you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.<\/p>\n
\n\u2003
\nAnd it all starts with that one little word, \u201cif.\u201d It\u2019s the little word that sets up the big trap to follow. If God cares about you, then why is he letting you suffer like this? If God loves you, then why is your life so miserable? Maybe he doesn\u2019t love you.<\/p>\n
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Or what about all those other \u201cifs.\u201d If God forgives sins, then why not go ahead and sin some more, since God will forgive you anyway?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s such a deception because there\u2019s always a little grain of truth in the devil\u2019s set-up. But then he twists it and uses it to lead you off in the wrong direction. It only takes a deception of leading you one degree off course to take you down a path, a hundred miles away from God.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Well, to the devil\u2019s little word, \u201cif,\u201d Jesus has some little words of his own: \u201cIt is written.\u201d
\nYou see, Jesus doesn\u2019t even stop to consider the devil\u2019s temptation; rather, he stops it cold in its tracks. \u201cIt is written.\u201d It stands written, and you can take your stand on what is written. And what is this written thing that Jesus is referring to?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Well, it is God\u2019s Word. God\u2019s word is a sure thing, a solid footing. God has spoken. His word is true. Don\u2019t listen to the devil\u2019s lies and half-truths. Instead, shut him up and shoot him down. And the way you do that is through that reliable and trustworthy word of God. \u201cIt is written.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is written, \u2018Man shall not live by bread alone,\u2019\u201d Jesus says. You see, there\u2019s more to life than just feeding your belly and satisfying your own desires. To do that apart from God\u2019s word and will would be to fall into the devil\u2019s trap. But Jesus doesn\u2019t fall for it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On the other hand, we too often do. But you know what, that is why Jesus came. To do what we don\u2019t do, what we so often fail at.<\/p>\n
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You see, Jesus is our representative, our stand-in, our Champion going out to do battle for us. Jesus does what we don\u2019t. He refuses temptation, stops it cold in its tracks. He is the man who will say no to the devil! Adam didn\u2019t. We don\u2019t. But Jesus does for us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And here is why it is so absolutely vital and necessary that Jesus does this. Remember how we so easily get distracted by all those temptations so that we end up on the path to hell rather than the path to salvation. Jesus, on the other hand, does not get diverted from what he came to do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You see, Jesus came to reverse the curse of sin and death, to change our course and the devil wants to keep him from doing that. Jesus came to save you. The devil doesn\u2019t want that to happen. He\u2019ll do anything to keep Jesus from accomplishing his mission for us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, the devil plays on Jesus\u2019 status as God\u2019s Son, in order to get him to use his sonship to serve his own desires. The devil tempts Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world\u2013which Jesus is entitled to and will end up getting eventually, but the devil wants to offer him a much easier path to get them than the hard road of the cross.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thanks be to God, that temptation doesn\u2019t work. Jesus answers him, \u201cIt is written.\u201d The devil tempts Jesus with the offer of quick success and power and popularity. \u201cIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself off the temple where everybody can see you, and they will surely acclaim you as the Messiah\u2013which is what you want, isn\u2019t it? God will surely protect you. After all, you are his Son.\u201d \u201cIf you are the Son of God.\u201d <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But Jesus has his own little words: \u201cIt is written.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jesus will not be deterred or diverted from the road he has taken, the way of the cross. For that is the only way Jesus could accomplish his mission and save sinful mankind; to save you and me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jesus took no shortcuts or sidesteps or easy ways out. It was straight ahead, full speed ahead\u2013that was the way for Jesus. He went to battle with the devil as your divine Champion. And he won! And he gives you a share in his victory. Jesus would let nothing stop him from doing what he set out to do, which is to go to the cross, to carry your sins on his back\u2014that sinless back that would endure flogging and beating for your sake. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Through thick and thin Jesus remained faithful to his Father\u2019s mission. And this is the good news of God\u2019s Word for you today. Nothing can stop our Savior from reaching his goal \u2013 from reaching his goal for you!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And reach it he did! On that cross all of your sins were paid for; and because God\u2019s own Son died for them in your place. The curse of death that comes from sin has been reversed, as Jesus\u2019 resurrection proves. Your enemy, the devil, has been defeated.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean that Satan has stopped tempting us. Indeed, he continues to work, day and night, luring us away from the truth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, when he comes at you with his temptations, you can say like Luther, \u201c I am baptized.\u201d I am saved! \u201cTake it up with Jesus, devil! He is my Champion because I know he stopped you in the wilderness, he defeated you on the cross, and he will stop you\u2013and stomp on you\u2013here and now and forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At the same time, we can also cry out to Jesus: \u201cHelp me, Lord! You are stronger than I am! Lead me to the Rock that is higher than me. Help me to stand on your completed work; to trust Your Word, your promises. Help me to say with you, Lord, \u2018It is written.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The devil comes at us with his little word, \u201cif,\u201d twisting and turning the truth, planting doubt and leading us astray. But Jesus comes out on the field of battle as our Champion, and he comes with those little words of his own, \u201cIt is written.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I end with words from that great Lutheran anthem we sang at the beginning of the service \u2026<\/p>\n
\n\u2003
\nThis world\u2019s prince may still
\nScowl fierce as he will,
\nHe can harm us none,
\nHe\u2019s judged; the deed is done;
\nOne little word can fell him.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jesus!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is written\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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