Matthew 4:1-11 (Romans 5:12-19)

If You Are…

            I’ve heard many debates recently about the topic of stolen valor. Now obviously, I’ve never been in the military, nor experienced anything close to what you might have experienced. I’ve always had great admiration for those men and women who take up the call to serve, as I feel most people do. But this is also why stolen valor is such an issue, as I understand it. So those of you in the military can correct me afterwards if I mess this up… But stolen valor is when someone either pretends to be in the military who actually isn’t, or someone who is in the military and lies about their role to try to claim greater valor and glory than what they truly experienced. In many ways, it’s playing an imposter for the sake of the compliments and other benefits that come with it. It’s seeking gain off of someone else’s suffering. With all that said, I want to flip the narrative just for sake of argument. What if a decorated veteran went up to you and asked you to be them for a whatever period of time? Would it be stolen valor then… if you had permission? If someone who accomplished many great things, had many benefits from their valor, desired to give it to you, then what would it be then? For consider our station by faith. Everything you have by faith was actually the work and suffering of another. Everything we can claim by baptism, was one man who came up to us and said, you get to be me today and perpetually. Of course, it’s Jesus who has fought for us and decided to give us his valor, his glory, as if it were our own.

            For today, in our Gospel lesson, we read about the temptation of Jesus. And lest we look at this all wrong, Jesus doesn’t contend with the devil solely as an example for us. Rather, his fight is our fight. For let us learn today:

BY ONE MAN’S OBEDIENCE, MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS!

I.

            Satan loves to come when you’re at your weakest. Adding insult to injury is Satan’s specialty. For we really have not just one temptation, but two today. And while we may see many similarities between them, we’ll definitely see one big difference. Before Jesus ever set foot in the wilderness, Satan had slithered into the garden to put Adam and Eve to the test. Imagine the moment. God had finished all of his creation, crafted women from the rib of Adam, brought them together in holy matrimony, and given to them the entire garden as their dwelling. God went so far as to say it was all very good. Yet, it didn’t take long for that to change. We all know well the temptation of Adam, because we feel it inside ourselves. As we read, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned,” Romans 5:12. Understand that Adam’s temptation was our temptation, and so, Adam’s fall is our fall also. There’s no individual blame for our parents in the flesh because they weren’t alone in their failure. We all have sinned, and thus, death reigns in us. 

            But I want you to understand temptation more specifically. We’re all used to Satan raising doubt in our minds concerning the truth of God’s word, just as he did with Eve, “Did God really say…” Genesis 3:1. But I want you to see from the temptation of our Lord, that such questions from Satan have a more sinister intent. For consider the first two temptations, how does Satan begin? “If you are the Son of God…” Matthew 4:4, 6. It’s not just a question of truth, it’s a question of identity! For understand that Satan wants you to forsake your identity in Christ, which is yours through baptism. For we’re united to Adam in his temptation by right of our birth, so that we’re also united with Christ in his temptation by right of our new birth in baptism. For Adam stood as the representative of all mankind so that Satan knew if he could topple one, he could topple all. So too, does he understand with Christ that if he can topple Christ, he can get to us all! For this is the fight we’re in against Satan, our sinful flesh, and even the world, that every temptation is to get you to toss aside your identity in Christ. 

II.

            For let us not fall prey to imposter syndrome, or accusations of stolen valor in faith. While Adam has shown us the weakness of our flesh, Christ has given us the strength of his victory! For Jesus became just as we are, that in his flesh, he suffered the same temptations we face. As Scripture testifies, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin,” Hebrews 4:15. He was pressed hard by Satan to toss aside his identity as the Son of God and to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. But, even in the face of such temptations, Jesus remained obedient. He stood firm in our flesh so that by our new birth through baptism, we too may also stand in the strength of his might. Thus, when Satan comes to tempt you, when he questions your identity as a child of God, we can tell Satan exactly what Jesus did, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve,” Matthew 4:10. At these words, Satan must flee! For he can’t stand in the embarrassment of his defeat!

            Thus, we see this truth play out in real lives, even today through baptism. That it was Jesus’ obedience to his Father, to the will of God for our salvation, that has made many righteous! Because Jesus is the sinless Son of God, he alone serves as the all-atoning sacrifice for you and me. For Jesus was obedient, even unto death upon the cross. He overcame Satan’s temptations and challenges to his identity. Jesus earned the victory by remaining perfect for us, so that he may give his perfection, his perfect obedience to you and me. For Jesus is the warrior who has come and clothes you with his robes and tells you that you have become him. Yes, God has made you into the image of his Son, so that no longer does the stain of sin remain, but only the holiness and righteousness of Christ! As Paul wrote, “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous,” Romans 5:19. This is our strength in our struggle against sin, that no longer are you fighting your own battle, but rather you have received the reward from Jesus winning the fight for you!

            So dear brothers and sisters in Christ, consider your identity when Satan comes to tempt you. For when he comes, you need only remind him, I am Christ’s! And in Christ, you’ve received the victory of the cross over sin, death, and Satan so that you may walk into eternal life! In Jesus’ name! Amen!