February 18, 2024 —
In the season of Lent, we witness a battle as Jesus takes our place in His passion. This week the battleground is temptation.
We know temptation. While we’ve never been asked to sacrifice a child, as Abraham was in our Old Testament Lesson to see if we trust God and place Him first in our hearts, we have nevertheless failed much milder tests. Living in our comfortable homes, clothed and well-fed, the setting for our temptations is more like Eden. There, our first parents chose fruit they didn’t need, considering that God had given them everything. Too often the temptations in front of us are misusing or wrongly prioritizing God’s blessings.
But then HE comes—the Valiant One who fought for us in our place. Today’s Gospel shows Him battling Satan’s temptations in a much bleaker setting. But He won. Then He called us to turn to Him. In our Epistle Lesson Paul applies Jesus’ victory over Satan’s temptations to us. No matter the challenge, no matter the temptation—God is with us and we have the victory. Jesus who kept the Law for us is our Advocate—our defense attorney. We cannot lose!