1st Sunday in Lent

March 5, 2006
Rev. Kenneth W. Wieting

Text: Mark 1:9-15

Beloved, count it all joy, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces in heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Yet Jesus Himself partook of flesh and blood to destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14). Satan knew that a male seed of Adam and Eve would come to crush Him. He knew that all the nations of the world would be blessed through a male seed of Abraham. Satan and the demons also knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the one.

The baptism of our Lord is like the ringing of a bell to signal the start of a slug fest between heaven and hell. Still wet with the Jordan’s water, Jesus is driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” the Father had said. Immediately Satan sprang forth to attack that Word of God.

Dear Christians, you dare not view this fight in the desert as a spectator. You are not fans in the stands doing the wave. You are in Christ. When this one flesh and blood man steps into the ring with the tempter all of us step in with Him. In the splendor of the first garden, Adam was defeated by the great dragon, the serpent of old called the devil and Satan. In Adam’s fall, all humanity fell into sin and death. Adam’s sin is our sin. Adam’s curse is our curse. Adam’s death is our death. Jesus steps into the ring for us and with us as we read, “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.”

In our corner of the ring is Jesus, true man born of the Virgin Mary. He fights for us, as one of us. In the opposite corner of the ring is that ancient adversary, that heavy weight from hell, that damned deceiver, Satan. (I use the word damned, not in the modern, cursing “see how tough I am” sense, but in the scriptural God-given sense). Satan is the damned deceiver because God has prepared an eternal fire for him and his angels (Mt. 26:41). He is damned and he knows it.

What St. Mark records in the temptation of our Lord is not a “how to” text to give you an example of how to win against the devil. The ancient adversary is one who knows Scripture better than you ever will. He masquerades as an angel of light to misuse it (II Cor. 11:14). He is a murderer from the beginning, a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). When God sows His Word, the wicked one sows weeds (Mt. 13:38, 39). He seeks to take away the Word from the hearts of those who hear it that they may not believe and be saved (Luke 8:19). He is seeking to take the Word from your heart even as you hear it right now. From Adam through Abraham down to Jesus’ day, no human being had ever stood firm against him. When it came to tempting man to sin, Satan’s record was perfect. For, there is no one righteous, not even one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:10, 12, 23). If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (I John).

With a record of millions of wins and no losses, Satan sprang to the attack. He swung at Jesus with the temptation of doubt due to hunger and suffering. Could Jesus really be the Son of God in that desert distress? Could this really be the start of His public ministry? The beloved Son counter punched with a direct hit. Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Satan feinted with God’s false protection for Jesus so great that He could cast Himself down from the temple and be unharmed. Jesus halted that sucker punch by quoting the whole text. God’s promise included the words “in all my ways”, not in ways outside of His will. Then He landed a stiff jab right into the very mouth of the temper. “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”, he said. Then Satan swung a haymaker, a mighty blow weighted with all the glory of all the kingdoms of the world. Just bow down and worship me, he said, and its yours. The baptized and anointed one sidestepped that blow and fired back a blow that laid the evil one low, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matt 4/Luke 4).

Fellow Redeemed, this is one fight worth hearing about again and again and again – even the abbreviated account in our text. Never try to imagine peace between these two combatants. Sometimes in this sinful world warfare is necessary. This fight is absolutely crucial to the eternal peace of mankind.

That it could happen, that Christ could be tempted at all is an amazing occurrence. For Christ was there when Satan rebelled! Christ was there when Adam and Eve were deceived by him! Christ covered their naked shame and gave them the first Gospel promise as He told Satan that a male seed would come to crush His accusing head. The pre-incarnate Christ was also there at Moriah (the angel of the Lord) calling out “Abraham, Abraham - do not lay a hand on the boy.”

It was the pre-incarnate Christ who promised Himself as Abraham’s seed through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed. Through the centuries He was there in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple forgiving sins in the sacrifices He commanded. He was there strengthening God’s people in their fight against Satan’s temptations through Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms.

The reason He now appeared on the earth was to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). This baptismal battle, this war in the wilderness was not a detour for our Lord. It is what He came for. As true man, He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). What you and I could not do, Christ has done for us! In the Judean wilderness Jesus fought off every temptation of the evil one – every temptation. Satan left none of his bullets unfired. Yet every fiery arrow shot from his bow was doused in the water of the Word. The tempter you could not defeat, the damned deceiver with millions of victories and no defeats was trounced by the true man. Satan lost in the wilderness! Oh blessed, happy day!

Satan went away from that encounter licking his wounds, but also looking for another opportune time (Luke 4:13). The battle would be fully joined again in the week we now call holy. Then Satan went for the kill, using Jesus’ own disciple. He tempted Judas to betray Him (John 13:2). Like a roaring lion He sought to devour the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The place for the final and decisive struggle was the same site where Isaac was bound for sacrifice centuries before.

Moriah was the place where Solomon’s temple was later built (II Chron. 3:1). A short distance to the west was the place where the cross of Christ would stand. The one who had stayed Abraham’s hand from killing his son, was Himself the Son of God who would be bound for sacrifice. On that very spot, God provided the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Where is the Lamb? Isaac had asked. It is a piercing question. How could Abraham move forward and actually raise the knife over his own son. Human speculation is futile in measuring this moment. But Scripture reveals what Abraham was thinking. “By faith Abraham when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice… reasoned (reasoning) that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb. 11:17-19). This is an incredible type, the clearest type in the Old Testament of what God would do on Mount Calvary. It took place not because God is sadistic. Rather, it took place with Abraham understanding the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead. God Himself will provide the Lamb.

Back to the culminating battle for all humanity on that very site! Satan kept slinging his blazing arrows; a kiss from Judas, a denial from Peter, the lies of the witnesses, the kangaroo court of the Sanhedrin, the hand-washing of Pilate, the cries of the people, “come down from the cross if you are the Christ”. It was a busy day for the father of lies. Jesus took a beating like you will never have to take. He wouldn’t have remained vertical, except that is the position He was staked to. Yet even there, suspended between heaven and earth, He went down for the count – a bloody death count.

Yet Satan was not the power puncher he thought he was! Indeed the deepest stroke that pierced Christ was the stroke that justice gave, the justice of the Father. For as the knife was raised over Isaac by his father even so the knife of God’s wrath was poised over His beloved Son! Although hanging in nakedness, there was a shameful, unseen covering he wore; our sin. This time no Divine voice broke in to stay the knife. This was so because the Divine voice, the Word made flesh was Himself on the altar of sacrifice. This time the knife of God’s wrath plunged deep into the bound and suffering servant on the cross. Jesus went down under God’s damning blow against our sin. Jesus went down for the bloody death count.

What an apparent victory for the devouring lion! But the deceiver was deceived! In Satan’s domain his hosts shouted and jeered for Jesus was dead whom the evil one feared! But their triumph was short. Satan, who always opposes the Word of God, had not given heed to his opponent’s amazing cry from Calvary. “Tetelestai” - It is finished! This is the cry of victory! In the darkness and the gore and the blood and the shame and the death our redemption was finished. Right then and there from the cross the head of the serpent was finally crushed! Right then and there the great dragon, the serpent of old called the devil and Satan was thrown down (Rev. 12). “It is finished!” Right then and there salvation was won! .

The one through whom all life was created was laid in a tomb. Yet even a bloody death count could not keep down the Lamb of God! His death was the victory. His death defeated death (Heb 2:14/9:15). It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him (Acts 2:24). Abraham was right to believe in the resurrection. So are you! The early morning light of the third day showed that the victory of Christ’s crucifixion was a total victory! He was there as our substitute. The knife of justice that plunged into Him struck our sin. There was no question that God could deliver a damning blow. But is it possible that God Himself could take that damning blow in our stead. The tree of the cross answers yes! Hell was left lying in the dust that you, o man of dust, might be lifted up to heaven and embraced by God forever. The tempter you could not defeat has been thrown down. Satan has lost his power to accuse you where Jesus is present.

“You are my beloved child” God has said to you in the washing of rebirth. You are not a spectator. You are in Christ, clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). Satan has been attacking that word connected with your baptismal water ever since. He still jabs and swings at you everyday to instill doubt. With sweet lies and deception he seeks to turn you from the trustworthy Word of your Father to the fickle feelings of your heart. Why this illness? Why this loneliness? Why this heartache? Why this pile of bills? Why this decaying culture? Why the death of your loved one? Satan continues to tempt you to take shortcuts and avoid suffering. “Did God really say He disciplines those He loves?” Satan still tempts you to grow weary and despair of God’s love.

Do take up the full armor of God to battle Satan (Eph. 6). Do flee his temptations (I Thess. 3:5). But most importantly do remember that only Jesus can beat the devil at his deadly game.

Satan has lost his power to accuse you in Christ because Jesus took those blows for you. If God is for you, who can be against you? It is God who justifies, who is he that condemns? There is therefore now, no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus.

In other words, it is you that now has the perfect record – not Satan. Oh there is no question that Satan’s temptations continue and that you need deliverance from them. It is no accident that Jesus teaches you to pray everyday, “Lead us not into temptation”. What does this mean? 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 into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally over come and obtain the victory.

Dear Christians, never despair! Satan lost in the wilderness! In Christ the victory is yours. In the wilderness of this world He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear (I Cor. 10:13). Jesus is your way out! You can count on Him! You can count on His love! You can count on His forgiveness! “O come, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of the faith”. AMEN.