Devotions this week are based on Week 1 of Temptation to Triumph: Temptation (WATCH HERE)
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When the temptations end, the devil leaves Jesus, and angels come to minister to Him. It is a quiet but powerful conclusion. The Son has been tested and has remained faithful. The wilderness confrontation is not an isolated spiritual skirmish. It is the beginning of a decisive reversal that stretches back to the garden of Eden.
In Genesis, Adam stood in a place of abundance. Surrounded by provision, he faced a single prohibition and failed. He doubted God’s word, desired what was forbidden, and grasped for equality with God. Sin entered the world through that disobedience. Humanity’s story became marked by distrust, self-protection, and rebellion. We inherit not only the consequences but also the pattern. We repeat Adam’s choice in countless ways.
Jesus enters the wilderness as the second Adam. Where the first Adam had food in plenty, Jesus was hungry. Where Adam was in a cultivated garden, Jesus is in a desolate wilderness. Where Adam succumbed to the serpent’s suggestion, Jesus resists the devil’s schemes. Each temptation echoes Eden. The appeal to physical appetite mirrors the fruit that was pleasing to the eye. The invitation to test God reflects the doubt planted in Eve’s mind about God’s goodness. The offer of kingdoms parallels the desire to be like God.
But where Adam fell, Jesus stood. He trusts the Father’s provision. He refuses to manipulate God’s promises. He rejects false glory. His obedience is not merely an example for us to admire. It is a victory accomplished on our behalf. Romans 5:18-19 tells us that through one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, but through the obedience of One many will be made righteous. In the wilderness, Jesus begins to undo the damage of the garden.
This means that our hope does not rest in our ability to withstand every temptation flawlessly. It rests in the faithful Son who already has. Hebrews assures us that we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Because He was tested and triumphed, we can draw near to the throne of grace with confidence. His victory becomes the foundation of our forgiveness and our strength.
At the same time, His triumph shapes our daily living. We fight temptation not as isolated individuals striving for approval but as redeemed children standing in Christ’s righteousness. When we fail, we return to the One who has succeeded. When we are weary, we remember that angels ministered to Him and that the Father sees our struggle as well.
The wilderness was not the end of Jesus’ testing. It foreshadowed the greater obedience of the cross. Yet this early victory assures us that the mission will succeed. The faithful Son will accomplish salvation. And because He has passed the test, we are covered with His righteousness.
Reflect: How does knowing that Jesus succeeded where Adam failed change the way you view your own struggles with temptation? In what areas do you need to move from striving for victory to resting in Christ’s finished work?
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending the faithful Son who stood firm where we have fallen. Thank You that His obedience counts for us. Teach us to rest in His righteousness and to rise each day strengthened by His victory. Draw us near to Your throne of grace with confidence and gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.