But Jesus sees right through the devil's schemes. Jesus responds to temptations by AFFIRMING HIS IDENTITY, through the Word of God. Satan tells Jesus to make bread, and instead Jesus quotes Deuteronomy chapter 8, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. I belong to God and I listen to HIS voice about when I should eat.” Satan tells Jesus to worship him, and Jesus quotes back Deuteronomy chapter 6. “I belong to God and of course, worship only HIM.” Satan tells Jesus to be spectacular, and Jesus quotes back Exodus chapter 17. “I belong to God, and I let HIM decide when miracles are necessary.” To each temptation, Jesus responds by claiming his identity as God's Son, and Messiah. And at Satan's next opportune time to test Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus responds by claiming his identity as the Messiah who is willing to give his life for his Father's kingdom – Jesus prays to the Father, “Not my will, but YOURS be done.” And as a result, at the cross, we hear the affirmation of the ROMAN centurion, “Truly this man was God's Son.” It was that obvious, much to Satan's chagrin. Jesus demonstrates for his followers the way to deal with Satan's temptation – affirm your identity through the Word of God.
And this is the identity that Jesus has given us through his death and resurrection – we are the adopted children of God. Jesus plants this identity within us through the Holy Spirit, who prepared us to receive and accept the good news upon hearing it. Jesus shapes our identity in baptism, by taking us on as his disciples, linking us with his cross and resurrection, and unlinking us from attachment to the world. Jesus renews our baptismal identity, through confession, forgiveness and repentance – breaking the wedge of guilt and drawing us closer to God, especially in this season of Lent. Jesus strengthens our identity, by giving us himself in wine and bread upon the altar, so that we not only follow Jesus, we have the dignity of carrying Jesus within us. And Jesus encourages us against temptation, by surrounding us with people in our congregation who share the very same identity as children of God. We are there for each other, to remind each other of whose we are, and what that means for how we live. We live...as ministers like Jesus. We are ministers who have been prepared by the Spirit to reject the temptation Satan springs on us, and to respond in love to God, his people, and his creation.
Gracious God, we are yours, and we desire to live as your children. Keep us safe from Satan's attempts to get between us, and guide us to respond to the temptations in our life with your Word, in Jesus name, amen.