There are two temptations stories in the Bible: There was the temptation of man and there was the temptation of Christ. In the first temptation, humanity was defeated by Satan, when Christ was tempted, Satan was defeated.

The Temptation of mankind by Satan and its outcome.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and she did eat. (Sin and death came upon all)

The Temptation of the New Man, Jesus the Christ, by Satan and its outcome.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "' You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "' He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Luke 4:3-12)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (defeated Satan and continues to defeat him)

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5

Yes, Lent is a reflective time to meditate upon the victory of Jesus the Christ over Satan and over all evil, and having been taken up into His victory by faith, we live as overcomers who offer hope to this dying world. That hope is only found in the victory of Jesus the Christ!

Pastor Orval Wirkkala