The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness three times. Today let�fs look at these three temptations as three types of temptations that we all experience.

The first temptation was to turn stones into bread. This is the type of temptation that comes to us in the everyday physical needs of our body. The second temptation was to gain authority over the world. This is the type of temptation that comes to us in greed and the lust for power. The third temptation was to jump off the temple roof. This is the type of temptation that comes to us when we doubt the love of God, or the existence of God.

We do not have the power to miraculously turn stones into bread, so when we are hungry or want something, we are tempted to get what we want by other means: theft, lying, cheating, and the like. Everyone wants to have power, to have the good feeling of knowing that we are in control. The temptation is to get that power even if we have to hurt other people to get it. When we hurt others we are doing the work of Satan, working like Satan, worshiping him and his methods. When we don�ft feel the love of God, when we are not sure of the existence of God, we want proof, we want to see God answering our prayers for help. It is tempting to make sure that God loves us. To make sure of something is testing something. To test God, to make a test of whether he will help us or not, is to doubt the love of God.

The devil tempted Jesus by saying, �hIf you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.�h The devil tempts us the same way. He is testing our faith. He says to us, �gYou aren�ft really a child of God, so go ahead and lie, cheat and steal.�h �gYou are not God�fs child, you are mine. Worship me and enjoy the sinful things of the world.�h �gDo you really think that God will take care of you? Will he help you even if you do something foolish?�h In other words, the devil is testing our faith in God. The devil doesn�ft care if we lie and cheat, but he does care if we trust God for our daily bread. The devil wants to destroy our fait hand trust in each and every temptation that comes to us every day in every way.

How did Jesus resist the devil? By trusting God and his promises in the Bible. Jesus quoted scripture. We do the same. That is why we memorize Bible passages in Sunday School and catechism class, and why we read the Bible at church and at home. We remember the Bible stories.
Jesus quoted three Bible passages. The first is 'Man does not live on bread alone.' We live by the Word of God. We remember the stories of how God fed the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. We remember that in the Holy Communion, Christ gives us himself to eat. The Lord�fs Prayer says, �gGive us this day or daily bread,�h but this means more than just what we eat, it means everything we need for our daily life, like food and drink, house and home, family and friends, and all the rest.
The second Bible passage quoted by Jesus is 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' When we want to get power over other people, realize that it is the devil trying to get power over us. Remember that we are to serve God, which means that God will always have power over us. That frees us when we are in positions of authority at home or at work, by knowing that we are serving God in our work. And another great Bible passage to remember is what Jesus said in Mark 10:45, �gFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." This is the humility with which we serve others.
And finally, the third Bible passage quoted by Jesus is 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' Rather realize that temptations can be God testing us! He is testing our faith. Often in school, tests are part of the learning process. We have to study for the test and the idea is that we will remember what we studied. God wants us to remember our trials and temptations and God wants us to grow through them so that we will always trust the Lord. Besides, God gives us a �gcheat sheet.�h To help us remember at test time, he gives us his Word, like my favorite Bible passage, Romans 8:28. �gWe know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.�h And there are many of the Psalms of David, like Psalms in the 50�fs, which look with confidence for help in times of trouble.

Jesus was in the wilderness alone for 40 days. But we are never alone. Jesus is with us. The Holy Spirit gives us strength and inspires us with words of scripture. The Christians fellowship also gives us strength. May this forty day season of Lent be a time when you see the love and grace of God to help you in all trials and temptations, and may you be all the more able to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter.

Amen.

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