The FIRST Greatest Victory-Ever
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”
Matthew 4:1-11
Nothing like this had ever happened on earth before…it’s never happened since.
This was the first greatest victory ever won on earth. Greater than any World Series or Super Bowl, greater than the end of any terrible war…this victory dwarfs every other victory ever won at any time-anywhere on earth. Only the second greatest victory is equal to it. The same contestant won both battles!
The first was a contest of two.
The event occurred in a remote desert. There were no spectators, but the entire world soon knew about this contest. The contestants used words for weapons. There were no deaths- no human deaths in this battle of all battles…just two contestants in a power struggle for the universe. The Victor earned the right to die for all humans. Jesus, Creator of the Universe, Son of God was tempted to sin by Satan.
Jesus won.
Three times Satan tempted Jesus. Three times Jesus was confronted with the opportunity to sin. (Is sin really an opportunity?)
Jesus won. Because Jesus won this victory over sin, He would become the Savior of the world.
In this battle, Jesus could have used His supernatural powers. He had fasted for 40 days. He overcame the temptation of great hunger with these words: “Man does not live on bread alone.” At the highest point of the temple, Jesus could have used His infinite power to win over a huge group of followers. He threw off this temptation for earthly power with these words, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
Finally, Satan attempted his desperate compromise… “I’ll give you all the kingdoms of the world.” Jesus turned from this temptation with these words: “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”
Jesus never sinned. Not once. He was tempted in every way…as we are…yet Jesus never sinned. How did Jesus face each temptation thrown by Satan? He used God’s word. All three answers were from the Bible, specifically, the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8.
Jesus is our example when we face sin…and we do every waking moment. When we are tempted, the Bible is the place to turn for words to use against the temptation sent by Satan. We are wise to keep a Bible close. We are wise to keep God’s word in our memory for those times a Bible is unavailable. (But, with a Bible app…we can have God’s word in our hands!)
One more truth. Jesus not only shows us how to face temptations, Jesus alone can save us from sin. Why? Because Jesus never gave in to sin. God put Adam on the earth to care for it…to steward it. He quickly sinned. Adam’s sin brought sin to us. Only Jesus is qualified to be the Savior to all who believe in Him. Jesus victory in the battle for the universe wins for you and me a way for our sins to be cast into a bottomless ocean, never again to be seen. Jesus’ victory over sin makes Him a Perfect Savior.
What is the final great victory? It is the one that Jesus won for us on the cross.
What a wonderful Savior He is.