Sermon – March 9, 2025
Rev. Enzo Pellini
Base Text: Luke 4:1-13
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;’

11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

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Introduction
I have a question for today. You don’t need to answer aloud: Have you ever sinned? Have you ever been tempted to do something wrong? Have you ever fallen into temptation? I’m sure you have. I’ve done it too. If I had never sinned, I’d probably already be sitting next to Jesus, because I’d be perfect.

I think we all know how to tell right from wrong. However, today’s message is not just about that, even though we’ll talk about Jesus’ temptations. There is a fundamental difference between the temptations Jesus faced and how he was victorious, and the temptations we face and our ability to resist them.

Today’s reading is not meant to condemn us or make us deny the possibility of falling into temptation. Instead, it teaches us that, although temptation is a reality in our lives, we are not alone in the struggle. It invites us to look to Jesus, who, full of the Holy Spirit, overcame temptation and shows us the way to live in grace and constant renewal.

Today, we encounter a powerful story in the Gospel of Luke. We see Jesus in the wilderness, facing the same temptations we face. But unlike us, he didn’t give in. He shows us the way, but also reminds us that it’s not about living with guilt for our failures, but about living in grace and constant renewal.

We’ve all felt temptation in our lives. Following the theme of this reading, it could be the temptation to seek security in material things instead of trusting in God. Or the temptation to compromise our values for quick success. Or the temptation to doubt God’s love and ask for proof to believe in Him.

Jesus faced all of this, but he overcame it. Not because he was lucky, but because he was full of the Holy Spirit and trusted in God’s Word. Today, we’ll dive into his example and see how it helps us in our daily lives.

II. The Three Temptations and Their Meaning Today (Luke 4:3-12)
First, Satan tells Jesus to turn a stone into bread. It seems harmless, right? Jesus is hungry after forty days of fasting. But here, the temptation is not just hunger, but self-sufficiency. Will we depend on God, or try to solve everything on our own?

Think about this: How many times do we feel like everything depends on us? We work hard, save, plan for the future, but forget that our true security is in God. A person might have a full fridge and a stable bank account, but if they don’t have the peace of God, they still live in fear.

Jesus responds with Scripture: “Man shall not live on bread alone.” He reminds us that our lives do not depend only on material things, but on God’s Word and will. [Self-sufficiency, in this context, means rejecting dependence on God, faith, and the church, relying solely on human reason, science, and personal achievements. It implies believing that we can solve all problems on our own without recognizing that there is something greater than us, such as divine wisdom and providence. This mindset focuses on the idea that we don’t need God to live, and instead of seeing life as an opportunity to trust in Him, it is viewed as something that can be controlled with our own strength and logic.]

Next, comes the second temptation. Satan offers him all the kingdoms of the world if only he will worship him. This is the temptation of power, the easy shortcut. In today’s world, this could be reflected in decisions we make to advance quickly: lying in business, betraying someone for personal gain, or compromising our values for approval from others.

Imagine someone who wants to progress in their career but finds that if they lie on their resume or betray a colleague, they could get a promotion faster. In those moments, the temptation is strong. But Jesus shows us that power without God is not worth it. “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only,” he reminds us. Our commitment to God cannot be bargained for any promise of earthly success. [The second temptation of Satan in the desert is precisely about the corruption of our Christian values and our Christian integrity.]

Finally, the third temptation: Satan tells Jesus to throw himself down from the temple because the angels will save him. Here we see the temptation to manipulate God, to demand proof of His love. How many times have we thought, “If God really loves me, He should give me this or that”? But true faith does not demand proof from God.

Jesus responds firmly: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” He teaches us that faith doesn’t need spectacular signs, but a deep trust in God. [The third temptation of Satan can be seen as the temptation to blame God for our difficulties, expecting Him to act spectacularly to prevent our suffering, and thus abandoning the faith with that excuse.]

III. Not Living in Guilt, but in Grace and Renewal
Now, we know that Jesus overcame temptation, but what about us? We don’t always succeed. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we fall. And here comes the most important message: We are not called to live in guilt, but in grace and renewal!

Satan wants us to stay in guilt when we fall. He wants us to think, “I’m worthless,” “God doesn’t love me anymore.” But God tells us something different. 1 John 1:9 reminds us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us.” The key is not to be perfect, but to always return to God.

IV. How to Live in Grace and Constant Renewal
A simple example: When a child is learning to walk, they fall many times. But a good parent doesn’t scold them for falling; they lift them up and encourage them to keep trying. This is how our Heavenly Father is. He never tires of lifting us up.

Conclusion
There is a phrase from Luther that says, “Pecca fortiter, sed fortius fide,” which means “Sin boldly, but believe even more boldly.” This means that even though we all make mistakes and fall, the important thing is to remember that God is always ready to forgive us. It’s not an invitation to do wrong on purpose, but a reminder that if we trust in faith and God’s love, we can have peace and hope. If we understand that we can always ask for forgiveness and that God does not reject us, we don’t have to live in fear or guilt because of our mistakes. Instead of feeling bad and distancing ourselves from Him, we can feel motivated to live better and do the right thing, knowing that God’s grace gives us the strength to improve every day. When we live with this confidence, it’s easier to make wise decisions and live in a way that reflects God’s love and goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.