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.
2. He makes very personal attacks.
A. He knew where Jesus was. He knew who Jesus was.
B. He knew his physical condition. He knew his apparent weakness and he went for it.
3. He has great power.
A. His power is seen in his timing.
1. During physical weakness– at the end of 40 days of fasting, he uses food.
2. During times of aloneness.
3. After an episode of great victory. Jesus was just baptized and God opened the heavens and confessed, “This is my Son whom I love and with whom I am well pleased.” That was a mountain top moment– and then Satan shows up.
B. His power is seen in his temptation. He came at Jesus with all kinds of physical provision, popularity and prestige. Satan said, “Worship me it will all be yours.... Financial, entertainment, sports, education, political, religious....” Satan says, “I have control of these and you can have them.....” You can have it fast. Just do it my way. You want to be Lord don’t you. No pain, no cross— you can have it now. Popularity, prestige..... Look, if you do it the Father’s way, you’ll only get a hand full of people. Do it my way and have them all. Win the crowd. You will be the Hero! There’s no danger— Angel’s will protect you.
C. His power is seen in his strategy.
1. He tried his best to get Jesus to rely on himself. Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” This temptation is not to make Jesus doubt himself, but to depend on himself.” After all, it’s been 40 days. God hasn’t lifted a finger to alleviate his suffering. Time to take things in his own hands.
2. His strategy also involved twisting the Word of God. Satan said, ““throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully”. Don’t trust someone just because they can quote scripture— it could be slanted.
4. He has a 3-D philosophy.
A. Distraction– He wants our worship off God.
B. Deception– He is the Father of Lies. He wants you to ignore the truth and believe his lies.
C. Destruction– His goal according to John 10:10 is to “kill, steal and destroy.”
*. Example of Judas: He let the devil in, and he took control. Drove him to utter destruction, suicide, hell.
5. His motivation is revenge.....
A. Listen to Revelation 12:9-12....
B. The Devil lost the battle against Christ, and his only hope at revenge is to get at Christ’s followers. Therefore his target is you and me.
6. His temptations are beatable!
A. Jesus beat Him. And I am so glad he didn’t defeat him with supernatural power, but with faithfulness– that brings hope to me. I don’t need miraculous powers, I just need to be faithful. It is not about miraculous power, but about faithfulness to the Word of God.
II. How can we defeat Him?
1. Acknowledge his reality. You will never see him, but you can guarantee He’s there. (Romans 5:8).
A. 1 Peter 5:8 encourages us, “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2. Know your Bible. Every time Satan hit Christ with a temptation, Jesus responded, “It is written” and then quoted a pertinent memory verse. The key to defeating the devil and his temptations lies in the Power of God’s Word. Paul tells us that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit– that is “sharper than any double edged sword.” You have got to know your Bible!
3. Rely on prayer. I so much appreciated in the movie that when Satan tempted Jesus with the thoughts– “You can’t do this. No one can do this. It’s too costly. It’s not worth it.” Jesus’ first response was prayer, “Rise up and defend me! Shelter me Lord. I trust you Father!” The one things Satan fears is a Christian on his knees. James tells us, “Resist the devil and He will flee!” You fight Him in prayer.
4. Increase your worship and service of God. The devil wants to distract you worshiping and serving God. And to be honest, if you aren’t actively involved in those things, he’s got you.
5. Surround yourself with Christian Fellowship. The devil is powerful and you don’t stand a chance against him all alone. The lone-ranger Christian is easy pickins! “Ducks on a pond!” Surround yourself with Christian fellowship. All of us need encouragement, accountability, extra protection.
6. Know you are being watched. You are under surveillance! In Luke 4, the Devil left Jesus “for a more opportune time!” Satan left until a more “opportune time”. A time when his suffering would be more intense, a time when Jesus would be weaker, more vulnerable– a time he could have avoided, if only he hadn’t taken sides in the desert so decisively, and resisted so resolutely. You may win today, but don’t forget about the possible ambush tomorrow.
7. Be inspired by the victory of Jesus. Satan would have you believe, you cannot win.
Auburn Football coach asked a former player to do some recruiting. The new recruiter said, “What kind of player are we looking for coach? And the coach said, “Well, there are the kind of players that when they are knocked down, they don’t get back up.” And the recruiter said, “That’s not the kind of player want is it coach?” “No, that’s not the kind of player we want.”
Again the coach said, “And there’s another kind of player that when he is knocked down, he gets up, is knocked down again but doesn’t get back up.” “That’s not the kind of player we want either is it coach?” “No, that’s not the player we want.” Then the coach said, “But there’s this kind of player that when you knock him down, he gets back up. You knock him down, he gets back up. You knock him down, he gets back up.” “That’s the player we want, isn’t it coach?” And the coach said, “No, we want the guy that is knocking everybody down!”
Now, in the Christian life we have emphasized, “When you get knocked down, get back up! There’s no sin God can’t forgive. His love is unconditional. His grace is greater than all our sin. And that is true.” But, Jesus won the victory every time. He defeated Satan each time.
8. Remember, He is defeated!
A. I almost hate to confess this, but Mel Gibson changed my theology a bit. I always assumed that when Jesus died on the cross, Satan and all his hoards were in celebration. After all they had just succeeded. They killed the Messiah. However, the film portrayed Satan in agony. In the last scene, the Devil is screaming in agony. He wasn’t celebrating Christ’s death, he was agonizing over it. When Jesus pronounced, “It is accomplished!” Satan knew, it was finished. Mission accomplished. And He realized his doom.
B. Read: Hebrews 2:14-18
C. One of the most powerful scenes came at the beginning of the movie where Jesus is laying prostrate in the Garden pouring out his soul to the Father and pleading with him for Help. Satan, who is also there sends a poisonous snake Christ’s way in order to kill him. Jesus, acting as if nothing is happening, rises to his feet and (stomp) stomps the head of the snake– which foreshadowed exactly what Jesus would do in his death, burial and resurrection! And, it foreshadowed exactly what we’re able to do with Satan’s temptations in our own lives when we rely on Him.
D. Though I have studied in detail the crucifixion of Christ, seeing it portrayed on the screen enlivened my knowledge and deepened my love for the One who suffered for me. The Passion of the Christ will foster truer and deeper love for the Savior who “humbled Himself and become, (completely) obedient to death– even death on a cross!– Philippians 2:8.
E. Because of Christ’s passion, the devil is defeated and Jesus is the Champion! And so are we if follow His example!
