In Genesis 3 we read the account of Adam and the woman succumbing to the temptations of the Serpent and falling into sin. Adam and the woman placed their faith and trust not in God's Word, but in the Lie of the devil instead. Adam and the woman trusted the serpent and went against God's Word. God cursed Adam, the woman, and He dealt the death blow to the serpent saying, "I will put enmity between you and the woman,  and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). This proclamation of the Gospel for the sake of Adam and the woman came to fruition in the Incarnation of the Son of God in the person of Jesus the Christ. For as we read in Matthew 4, Jesus would be caste out by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

After His Baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was hurled out or led out by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for the sole purpose of being tempted by the devil. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, showing that He was physically drained and the opposite of Adam and the woman who were fattened up in Paradise. When Jesus was physically spent, close to passing out, then entered the devil to do his worst. The devil came and first tempted Jesus to doubt His identity as God's Son. The devil tempted Jesus to doubt His identity and make bread for Himself out of some stones. Jesus didn't listen, but instead went back to the Word of God and said that man lives not just for the temporal, but for the eternal Word of Truth. The devil then tempted Jesus to twist God's Word, use it for His own devices. The devil did this by misquoting Psalm 91 and leaving out some words. Jesus corrected the devil and said that Man should not put the Lord God to the test, but trust in His complete Word. The devil then tempted Jesus to bow down and worship him in exchange for worldly power and popularity. Jesus denied this and caste the devil away and then passed out from exhaustion and was attended to by the angels. Where Adam and the woman failed, Jesus overcame and was successful against the assaults of the devil. Jesus did not do this for Himself, but rather was in the wilderness on our behalf and was tempted in our stead. As Romans says, "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19). Through Adam sin and wickedness entered into the world. Through Jesus came into the world reconciliation with the Father and the righteousness of man, not based on his own merit, but based on the grace of Jesus the Christ.

My friends, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for you. Jesus died on the cross for you, rose from the dead for you, and now is ascended at the right hand of the Father for you as your advocate. Jesus does all things for you. He was tempted for you because you always succumb to the devil's tempts and judge yourself according to the world's views. Jesus was tempted for you in order that when you are tempted and fail, He may be right there with words of absolution and mercy. Jesus was tempted so that you may be forgiven your trespasses and absolved your failures. Jesus was tempted for you in order that He could take all your sins, all your failed moments, and pay for them on the cross. So take heart, your sins are forgiven because Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil for you.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull