Have you ever tried to do something only to have others try to stop you? Of course you have. In almost every sport or game you've played your opponent tried to keep you from scoring or winning. In school your attempt to learn a subject may be thwarted by the offer of someone else to let you cheat. Your attempts to be successful at work are undercut by disloyal fellow workers or by disgruntled customers. 

One of the most frustrating things in life is to strive to achieve a goal only to have others try to stop you or to have them suggest ways of accomplishing that goal by taking short cuts, by being dishonest, or by taking advantage of others.

Our Lord Jesus faced the same attempts to stop him that we do. On Wednesday night we heard about he resolutely set out for Jerusalem to suffer and to die on the cross only to have Peter try to prevent him. Jesus recognized that this attempt to stop him came from none other than Satan as he rebuked Peter, "Get behind me Satan, you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of man." This attempt by Satan or the Devil to stop Jesus was nothing new. Already at the beginning of Jesus ministry, the Devil tried his hardest to keep Jesus from doing the work and accomplishing the goal set for him by God the Father.

The Devil Tries to Stop Jesus.

1. Jesus Came to Save the World by the Way of the Cross.
2. The Devil Offered the Easy Way Out.
3. Jesus Stood Firm with the Word of God.

Context: Jesus had just been baptized by John in the Jordan River. At that time the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove and his Father confirmed his sonship. This marked the beginning of his work as the Christ to serve as our prophet, priest, and king. Before he began his public ministry, Jesus would spend 40 days in the desert fasting and praying and considering the work that was ahead of him. 

What a tremendous work that would be. He would spend three years training twelve disciples, demonstrating he was the Christ by miracles of healing and other signs, preach the good news of the kingdom, call people to repent, teach parables, shepherd his people, and finally suffer and die for our sins. During these 40 days he focused on the work ahead and strengthened his resolve for the task given him by his Father.

Jesus has also given us a goal in life that we are to work together on as Christians. Through our local congregation we can encourage each other to do that. Our goal is to strengthen our own faith with the word of God and then to share the Gospel so that others will also believe. We need to use the Law to show us our sins and the Gospel to show us our Savior. The church isn't here to provide a social club or to make people feel good about their sins. It is here to cut to the heart when we sin, to soothe wounded consciences with the gospel, and to work together to live to the glory of God and to make a difference in peoples lives. We are not just to "play church". We are to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus even though it means suffering for Jesus.


Transition: Jesus' work was much harder than ours will ever be because his involved the cross. And yet, he had the opportunity to bail out and to try to save the world by another way. Or so the devil would try to lead him to believe.

2. The Devil Offered the Easy Way Out.

The popular commentator, William Barclay, the author of the Peoples Commentary, recognized the Devil's temptations for offers to supposedly save the world by alternate means. He is really asking Jesus to cheat. In the first temptation to turn the stone into bread, he is telling Jesus to use his power to provide for the material needs of people through his miracles. "If you want a big following, fill their bellies." The temptation would come later in another form after the feeding of the five thousand when the people tried to make him their bread king.

Application: The church faces the same temptation today. If you want people to join your church, offer them worldly wealth and shower them with gifts. Many congregations teach that "God and Success go Together". That if you follow God you will become wealthy. Other churches main focus seems to be on feeding peoples bodies rather than feeding their souls. Another way in which churches are tempted to give in is to only teach what peoples itching ears want to hear and not the stinging message of the Law. And you dare not ask for money because then the church would decrease the financial well being of its members!

In the second temptation of Jesus, the devil offered a blatant attempt to just ditch the whole way of salvation. He took Jesus to the top of a high mountain, showed him the kingdoms of the world, and offered, 
"I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

This statement is filled with half truths and lies. Although the devil is called the Prince of this World by Jesus and the god of this age by St. Paul because he does have control over the world, this was not given to him, he rebelled against God to have this influence. And his offer to give this to Jesus was a bald faced lie. And yet, it was tempting. Jesus would receive from God all authority in heaven and on earth as a result of his work. The temptation was to receive it by following the devil instead.

Application: We face the temptation to reach the goal of our lives as Christians by taking the easy way out too. As individuals the Bible tells us that we must through many hardships enter the kingdom of God, that it is taking up our cross, that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, that we are to grow in our faith and knowledge, that we are to say not to sin and not live in it any longer, and that we will face conflict even in our own families. But who wants to do that? We would rather give in to the world, indulge ourselves, bend on our doctrine and practice, and cave in to those who accuse us of being too strict. Somehow we think that if we make buddies with the world and wink at or ignore sin that this is serving God. That too is a bald faced lie.


The third temptation called on Jesus to gain a following through sensationalism. Jump from a high point (top of the temple) and get up unharmed and people will follow you. People love sensationalism. No wonder the sermon or class or reading the Bible seems so boring. I've sat here in the pew when we have had guest preachers. To some extent the worship service does seem boring. The pastor seems to drone on and on. The hymns are sung without enthusiasm. We use the same basic liturgies week in and week out. The members seem cold to visitors. If we want to grow, maybe we need to spice things up a bit. Maybe that is why charismatic churches with speaking in tongues, miracles, and testimonies our growing at a tremendous pace while conservative churches are holding their own at best. Give them a show or they will go seems to be all the rage these days.

On the surface these temptations are very appealing. They offer to provide the same outcome as the way of the cross for Jesus but the way would be much easier. As Christians we would rather have our bellies filled, given salvation while still enjoying our sins, and provided with a show. But that is not the goal that God had for his Son because without the shedding of blood, his Son's holy and precious blood, there would be no forgiveness of sins.

Jesus recognized the intent of these temptations and he responded by using a powerful tool that is made available to each of us. He repelled each temptation with the Word of God.
It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' The Word is much more important than personal satisfaction.
It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'
We are to put God first in our lives in reality and not just say that we do.
It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'
We are not to take a chance with our salvation.

Application: We can take up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to repel the devil's attempts to keep us from God's purpose in our lives. But not if we refuse to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest it as Jesus did.

Conclusion: I'm sure you have many goals in your life whether it be to win a game, get a good education, provide food, clothing, and shelter for your family, be a good husband or wife or parent etc. There is an easy way to accomplish those goals and there is the a hard way.

As members of this congregation we share a common goal: Our congregation exists in order to proclaim without wavering the unchanging Word of God to all people in an ever changing world.
We can do this the easy way as the Devil tempts us or we can do it the hard and right way as God commands us. Jesus chose the hard and right way when he was tempted and brought about our salvation. The true follower of Jesus will also choose the hard and right way to carry out his goal for his life. Amen.