Hector vs. Achilles. David vs. Goliath. Superman vs. Lex Luther. History, both fiction and non-fiction, has seen its heroes and villains. One nation or civilization puts forth its best warrior against that of another nation. At times, rather than entire armies going into battle, the terms of agreement were determined by the winner of that duel. So the champion didn’t just earn bragging rights, but also the right to set any terms or demands of the defeated.
In the wilderness, following his baptism, we witness the best heaven could put forward in Jesus, going head-to-head against the best hell could put forth in the devil. There was much more at stake in the outcome of their duel, however, than just one nation or civilization; they were fighting for mankind as a whole. The winner would have much more than just bragging rights; he would have the final say in the eternal status of every single soul.
Prior to this account, Matthew had covered Jesus’ baptism. It was there that the heavens opened and the Father validated heaven’s champion with his voice of approval. Now hell opens up and puts forth its best challenger against heaven’s champion. The Father had claimed Jesus as his Son, and here Satan wants to challenge that status. He wants to put it to the test, so he sharpens his go-to weapons and attacks Jesus with the three temptations recorded for us.
When Matthew writes, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (v.1), he was pointing out that there was a very specific purpose behind Jesus’ temptation. This battle with Satan was one of the numerous events throughout Jesus’ life used to prove Jesus’ qualifications for serving as the Savior. Otherwise, how could he be the holiness and perfection we needed in our Savior if he never had the opportunity to demonstrate his obedience and ability to overcome temptation?
Our Savior in this showdown with Satan is not merely showing us how to overcome temptation, thereby giving us a standard operating procedure to follow; he’s doing much more – achieving for us the very perfection and obedience we could never attain on our own. He’s showing himself to be what we cannot and exactly the champion we needed: a holy one. The writer to the Hebrews provided his stamp of approval when he wrote that Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin” (4:15).
Realize why else this obedience matters. Without it, where we end up during the season of Lent, at the cross on Good Friday, April 7, would not matter. Jesus’ death was not all that was necessary for our salvation. His death paid for our sin, but his life was required for our perfection. His obedience in the face of temptation is credited to us by faith, but without that obedience, his death would have left our salvation incomplete.
Consider the new hire at a company. When his training is complete and he begins to tackle what he was hired for, people aren’t only paying attention to see that he doesn’t royally mess everything up, but also that he does the right things the right way. In other words, the basis for success after one month would not only be that he didn’t break the rules or do anything wrong, but also that he actually accomplished the work that he was hired to do!
So Jesus didn’t just die for our sins, paying for all of our wrongs; he also had to accomplish the requirements of heaven – doing the right thing all the time (holiness) in our place. And to prove that he was up to the task, he had to face temptation head-on. So see in these verses how our champion trounces the tempter and find the strength and confidence in your Champion, Christ, to imitate his success when Satan comes knocking at your door next!
Rest assured, it won’t be long. As a matter of fact, you’re more than likely well aware of how he’s bringing it right now. This applies to all of us – even those reading this who may not consider themselves followers of Jesus or ready to believe in things like hell, Satan, and temptation. Even if you’re not there on a spiritual level yet, surely you know firsthand the internal struggles that we all wrestle with between having a pretty firm handle on what the right thing to do is and our desire to do something else.
We know the right thing for our spouse, our family, and for the good of society, is to remain faithfully committed to our marriage promises. But then there is the coworker or acquaintance who has seemed to take an interest in us, and suddenly we discover this awakened curiosity that justifies spending more time together.
We know that being kind and loving to others is the right thing to do, but then I get into the comment section and come across some idiot making a boneheaded comment and I can’t just let it go unaddressed – it’s my responsibility to let everyone else reading the comments know what a childish moron this person is!
I know it’s not good for my kids to see me fly off the handle and cuss other drivers out when we’re in the car, but it’s not easy when the world is filled with so many inept drivers!
I’ve seen enough other lives fall apart from not being able to control their drinking, but that’s not me – I can still have just one more without it being a problem like it is for others.
When we find ourselves in those situations, we’re experiencing temptation, and though you may not believe in Satan, I can assure you those temptations aren’t coming from a loving and gracious God.
Here’s what else you can expect. Satan will tailor his temptations specifically to you. He is not all-knowing or present everywhere – he is not God, after all! Yet he nonetheless has hordes of evil angels – demons – keeping tabs on when and where we are weak. He knows what you like to watch. He knows what you try to get away with. He knows what your go-tos are to cope when stress or anxiety hits. And he will turn all of that against you to get your world to crumble and come crashing down.
Should we expect anything less when that is exactly the approach he took against Jesus? Why tempt Jesus to turn stone to bread? Because he had just been fasting and was famished! Why tempt Jesus to jump off the temple and tease God to send his angels to the rescue? Because Jesus had just heard his Father express his love and approval at his baptism, and this would have been a great opportunity for Jesus to say, “Prove it, Father. Rescue me.” Why tempt Jesus with worldly power and prestige? Because Jesus knew that as the One who came to suffer and die, the path ahead for him did not at all include any worldly ideas of power and prestige, but poverty and punishment instead. Right here and right now, though, he could sample a little taste of worldly glory. Satan tailored temptation specifically to Jesus like a finely fitted suit. Expect he’ll do the same to you.
And to be ready when he does, see how Jesus handled the temptation and take note of how different it is from how people tend to respond today. When we respond today, two of the most common phrases out of our mouths are “I think” or “I feel.” Then we proceed to explain what prompts us to think or feel that way. If that is our go-to response to fend ourselves against temptation – our own logic or emotions – is it any wonder why we either fail in the face of temptation or end up eagerly welcoming it? With no tried and true compass to guide us, we often end up using our own subjective logic or emotion to actually justify or give ourselves permission to give in! Satan salivates when our response in the heat of temptation is “I think” or “I feel,” because he knows how easy his job is from that point on!
But Jesus doesn’t use either of those words. He uses something else: just one word in greek that is simply translated, “It is written.” If Jesus was speaking the way we do today, he would have simply said, “the Bible says…” With the Word of God, we are no longer on the shaky ground of fleeting emotions or easily swayed logic. The Bible doesn’t change. God’s Word has always been God’s Word and always will be. And it will never misguide or misdirect anyone.
And understand why this whole account “was written” for us today. It was not merely as a “how to” on fighting temptation, but as assurance that we have a champion who thoroughly defeated the enemy and his temptation in our place. This account was written not to provide an example, but to show an explanation as to how heaven could be ours: we see our Savior earn it for us. That, at the end of the day, is why all of this is written. So it will not and cannot fail us.
You, though, are going to fail. But I want to assure you that not all is lost when you do. Because our relationship with God is not based on our record of successes vs. failures when faced with temptation. That is not the standard God uses. The only standard he sees is one: his Son’s. And he has an undefeated record in the face of temptation. He’s never lost. He’s never failed. He’s never given in. And through faith in this Savior, our Conqueror, that is the only record God sees in your life, too. Perfect. Undefeated.
Now let me ask if you think knowing that means you’re more or less likely to stand up and fight in the face of temptation. I think people often write off Christianity as being too good to be true because it’s so easy – all we have to believe is that Jesus did everything for us and we are free to live however we please. It’s true! We are free to live however we please!
But… does giving into temptation look nearly as appealing in light of a God who is filled with grace and forgiveness and unconditional love for me no matter how many times I fail? No. What starts to look more appealing – and bring far greater fulfillment than any temporary temptation ever will – is striving to live the God-pleasing life that Jesus has set me free to live. At the same time, that is going to serve others in the best way possible. It will contribute in the most meaningful, difference-making ways to improving society.
I want to wrap this up by pointing out what happened after the temptation. Notice that angels come to attend our Champion. How awesome would that be!?! To have God’s special messengers provide direct care and support following a time of testing?
Guess what? God has promised to provide care and support for you following times of testing, too. Will it be directly through angels, as Jesus experienced? While it’s certainly possible, it’s less likely than another option: your church family. Remember, God doesn’t just gather his people together to show up on an occasional Sunday morning, but to minister to each other and the people God has placed into our lives. That includes providing care and support for each other when we’re struggling. No, we’re not angels, but just as God used angels to provide aid, care, and support to Jesus, so God can use us to provide the same to each other.
And this desire is not fake or disingenuous. Nor is it natural. It comes from the same Savior who stared down Satan to secure our salvation. The Jesus who loves us that much has freed us to love others. Our Champion won for us the freedom from selfishness that finds joy and delight in putting others first. On our own, we were and are easily defeated; Our Champion changed that. In Christ we are undefeated.