In the Old Testament, Israel was baptized into the Red Sea. That is how the Apostle Paul describes Israel's exodus from Egypt. With the blood of the Passover lamb smeared over their door frames and the flesh of that lamb filling their bellies, God led the people of Israel through the Red Sea and into the wilderness where they would endure 40 years of temptation before they were brought by God into the promised land. Israel didn't have a very good track record with temptation. In fact, at every crucial point Israel failed miserably. She refused to trust God for provisions of daily bread and whined about how much better it would be if she were back in slavery in Egypt. Israel hardened her heart to the voice of God. She tempted the Lord God with her rebellion. She made for herself false gods like the golden calf and she bowed down and worshipped that idol that she had crafted in her unbelief. Those dismal years of wilderness wandering are the saga of failure and defeat when it comes to temptation.

Old Testament professor Horace Hummel observes that "Jesus is Israel reduced to one." In other words, Jesus comes to do what Israel failed to do. He comes as the obedient Son of His Father who will "fear, love, and trust" the Father above all things. Now the Father sent His Son in our flesh to be our Substitute and Savior. We can see this already in Jesus' baptism where he insists on being baptized with a sinner's baptism "to fulfill all righteousness." Immediately after His Baptism, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Just as Israel went into the wilderness for 40 years after the baptism in the Red Sea to be tempted and tried so now the Son of God is led into the Jordan wilderness to be tempted and tried for 40 days.

Here Jesus goes toe to toe with Satan. Declared the beloved Son of His Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism in the Jordan, now Jesus confronts Satan head on. Like all of our Lord's suffering, His temptation was for us. He endured temptation as our Substitute. Just as He suffered underneath the burden of our sin on the cross so He suffered the temptations that beset us when He went into the wilderness to face Satan.

In the wilderness, Israel had grumbled about the lack of food. Jesus willingly fasts for 40 days and 40 nights. He goes hungry. After that time of fasting Satan comes to the Lord with what had to be a very appealing invitation: "If you are the Son of God command that these stones become bread." Every fiber of Jesus' begged for nourishment. He was starving. All that He has to do is say the word and rocks will become biscuits! What harm could there be in that? After all, God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. God gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater. God opens His hand to satisfy the desires of every living creature.

Jesus came into our flesh to be our Servant. He bows in obedience to the will of the Father. He will not use His divine power to serve Himself. He will wait as we must wait on the Father to open His hand and give Him daily bread. So Jesus throws Scripture into the teeth of Satan: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Satan fails to ensnare Jesus with this temptation of His own flesh, His own bodily need. The temptation of the flesh is not the only trick that the devil has in his bag. Next he tries to capture Jesus with a temptation of the world. Escorting Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, he says to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge concerning you' and 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Satan is inviting Jesus to make a name for Himself, to establish His reputation. Just think of it. What a spectacular performance Jesus could render. He sky dives from the highest point of the parable without a parachute and a troop of angels swoop down and carry Him to safety before He so much as stubs His toe. Jesus will then be famous. People would know who this man is and He would have their attention.

Again Jesus answers from the Word of the Lord: "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God." God is to be trusted, not tempted. God can be trusted to give Jesus the name and the reputation that He will give Him by way of the cross and resurrection. Jesus did not come to put on a show but to be our Savior.

Now Satan circles back with a third temptation that is from the pit of hell itself. Now the devil tempts Jesus directly. This third temptation is a temptation that involves spiritual things. Satan takes aim at God Himself. His target is the First Commandment. From the vantagepoint of a high mountain, Satan gives Jesus a panoramic view of the kingdoms of this world, saying to Him "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship Me." Satan is, in effect, saying to Jesus, "You don't have to suffer and die to establish your kingdom and become King of Kings and Lord of Lords....all you have to do is bend your knee to me. Just one little act of homage and adoration, that's all it takes! Jesus renounces Satan and all of his works and all of his ways. He says "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."

Jesus was tempted in our place and in that hour of temptation He was victorious. Remember what we sang in the opening hymn?

"You strove with Satan, and you won;
Your faithfulness endured;
Lend us your nerve, your skill and trust in God's eternal Word."

Temptation is part and parcel of the Christian life. You cannot escape being tempted. In our Sunday and Wednesday services this Lenten Season we are emphasizing "Lent as spring training for the Christian life." God trains us to face temptation by relying on Jesus who was tempted for us. He did not give into Satan's cunning. Clinging to the Word and will of His Father, He went to the cross to win for us the forgiveness of sins. In His Baptism, in the preaching of His Gospel, in His word of absolution, and in His body and blood, Jesus Christ gives to you that blood-bought forgiveness. With these gifts He arms you to stand steadfast in His grace and so to live in the confidence that Satan is defeated. "He can harm us none, He's judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him." Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep and guard your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.