Although the outcome has been decided by Jesus victory, the devil won’t give up without a fight.
What does Lent mean for the Christian? There are many things a person could talk about, but perhaps Lent’s biggest emphasis is reminding you that you are in a fight. You are in it whether you want to be or not, and it is no friendly skirmish. Your opponents want blood, death, and destruction. Don’t think this season is just about trying to get you to fight better or somehow escape the fight. The most important part of this season is seeing how Jesus fights for you. Here, you see him fight for you against the devil. Luther’s battle hymn, “A Mighty Fortress,” will help to guide our meditation:
A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
he helps us free from ev’ry need that has us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight;
on earth is not his equal.
With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
but for us fights the valiant one whom God himself elected.
You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is, the almighty Lord, and there’s no other God;
he holds the field forever.
“The old evil foe” is Satan. His “deadly woe” seeks your death and eternal destruction in hell. His “deep guile and great might” includes legions of demons; his strength is greater than any you have. He has honed his cunning with millenia of practice to exploit every weakness of your nature so you fall deeper into his net of sin.
Truly “On earth is not his equal.” Truly, “With might of ours can naught (that is, nothing) be done; Soon were our loss effected.” Adam and Eve tried to stand alone against the devil in the Garden. They fell, and their failure still carries consequences for you. You live under the curse of sin; you’re subject to death. It is your daily struggle. How can you stand spotless before God when you are covered in the grime and gore of this battle against sin, Satan, and hell?
Jesus goes into the wilderness to battle Satan for you. He takes him on alone.
But you don’t stand alone, as Luther sings: “But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected. You ask, ‘Who is this?’ Jesus Christ it is, The almighty Lord.” Jesus goes into the wilderness to battle Satan for you. He takes him on alone. He confronts every challenge and temptation. He never failed to trust his Father to sustain him. He never turned his power toward selfishness. He never misapplied God’s Word. He never fell for Satan’s false promises. Above all, he never slipped from his mission of saving you.
Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us,
we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him.
What does that mean? Satan’s judgment doesn’t take place in the wilderness, but you know when it happened. The devil will take another run at Jesus. His efforts reached their ultimate at Gethsemane and finally atop Golgotha. At the cross, Satan thought he was winning. Finally, he defeated God’s valiant Champion.
Before Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit, he cried out in a loud voice, “It is finished!” Three words in English, but only one in Greek! As God’s plan of salvation was fulfilled, the devil’s plans came crashing down around his head. So Jesus’ victory was complete, and yours along with him.
The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
he’s by our side upon the plain with his good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, though all may be gone, our victory is won;
the kingdom’s ours forever!
Jesus showed you how to use the Word to defeat the devil when he faced temptation in the wilderness. In answer to Satan’s every attack, Jesus begins: “It is written.” He takes up the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” You hold the same weapon in our hands, and Satan must flee. How important it is to immerse yourself in God’s Word!
Although the outcome has been decided by Jesus victory, the devil won’t give up without a fight. He will continue to wage his war against us, and his power is still great. He will fight to tear us away from our Lord and Savior. Yet on the basis of Jesus’ fight for us in the wilderness and especially his battle at the cross, we can sing confidently with Luther: “Our victory is won; The kingdom’s ours forever!”
