By Rev. Eric Brown
“If You are the Son of God…”
Satan knows perfectly well who Jesus is. He’s not approaching Jesus trying to figure out who or what He is. Satan is operating with a flawed view of what it means to be God. You’re God; why would You be hungry and suffer when You don’t have to? You’re God; why wouldn’t You just have the awesome earthly glory You are entitled to? You’re God, You can do what You want – how about we sign a treaty and You can have all these sinners without a fight.
Satan knows that Jesus is God, but Satan doesn’t understand God. He never did. Satan thought being God meant power, might, glory – all the things Satan and the world still tell us to strive after. Satan thought being God meant doing whatever you wanted for yourself.
John tells us in his epistle that God is love. That’s what Satan can’t get. God loves. Period. God serves. God always acts not in His own interests, but for the good of His creation, the people He loves. God always acts for your good. And as Jesus is true God, that is what He does even when tempted.
Because Jesus is the Son of God, He will see that you live by the Word of God who wins you life and salvation by His own death and resurrection.
Because Jesus is the Son of God, He will not put God to the test. His foot won’t hit a stone – but His heel will be bruised when He grinds Satan under His heel on the cross.
Because Jesus is the Son of God, He will serve the Father by going to the Cross to win you salvation.
Christ doesn’t tangle with sin and temptation just to mess with Satan; He does so because He loves you and will see that you are forgiven and with Him for all eternity. That is who He is, and whom He makes you to be in your Baptism.
Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois.
