Christ's Passion Against The Evil One! Series

A. Today, I want to begin a sermon series that will focus on The Passion of Christ. This series will lead us to Easter Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. In this series, I want to explore different themes that were apparent to me in Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ.

B. How many of you have seen the movie– The Passion of the Christ?

C. In this series, I would like for us to consider Christ’s passion for His Father, Christ’s passion for People, on Easter Sunday, I want us to see Christ’s passion for Victory. But today, I’d like for us to consider, Christ’s Passion Against the Evil One.

D. One of the most disturbing aspects of the film (in my opinion) was the presence of Satan. When I first saw the movie, my inner being was disturbed something awful. The presence of the Devil in Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ has stimulated many questions? 1) Why was he played by a woman character? 2) What significance did the baby in Satan’s arms play? (I think Satan was saying, “Here’s my son! Here’s my plan for the future!) (And didn’t you just hate the smile and look on that little anti-Christ?) 3. At the end of the movie, was he laughing or crying?

E. Even though Satan only appeared in five scenes, his presence and influence was felt throughout the whole film. Now, we don’t know how involved Satan was with the events around the cross, but you can see his influence in Judas’ betrayal with a kiss; Peter’s denial; Jewish leader’s jealousy; Roman guards violence; Crowd’s fickleness; Disciple’s desertion; Pilate’s cowardice. The Scripture doesn’t tell us many specifics of the Devil’s work around the cross, but we know He was there.

F. This morning I want us to look at Christ’s passion against the evil one. And instead of using speculation, I want us to consider some specifics about Satan that we can learn from another episode in the life of Christ that displays his Passion against the Evil One! Luke 4:1-11 says.....

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 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 does not live on bread alone.’a”

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, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’b”

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.’c”

12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’d”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

G. We can learn a lot about the Devil in this record from Luke.

H. A couple years ago, when Egypt flight 990, plunged into ocean, experts concluded that there seemed to have been struggle for control in cockpit. If that is accurate, that is a picture of what we experience in life. I think that is a good picture at what Satan was doing to Christ in Luke 4. John 10:10 says the thief comes to, “kill, steal and destroy”, In our text, Luke records Satan’s attempt to ruin Christ, his ministry and His life.

I. This morning, let’s not only increase our knowledge of the Evil One, let’s learn how Christ defeated him. Let’s imitate his victory and let’s develop the same Passion that Christ had against the Evil One.

I. Things to know about the Devil:

1. He is real! We live in a world that likes to ignore his existence. At best, Satan is only a red horned caricature. Even the church doesn’t like talking about his existence. But Luke 4 makes it very clear that He is very real. I loved how the film portrayed Satan as present, but no one saw Him. Even Jesus didn’t acknowledge his presence with his eyes or his words, but Jesus knew he was there. And you may never see him with your eyes, but don’t doubt for a moment– He is real.