Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil. That’s a line you hear fairly often on this podcast. But what does it actually mean that Jesus defeated the devil?

What is the devil? Who is the devil? What should we think of when we talk about the devil?

These are the questions we ask Sarah Stenson as we discuss Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness for 40 days. 

Sarah explains the devil’s only tool is doubt. His only tool is unbelief. Unbelief is sin. The consequence of sin is death. But death doesn’t have the final word over you. Christ’s promise does. 

HOLY WEEK GUIDE

“The cross stands before us, and the empty tomb beyond it. Nothing will ever be the same. The road is narrow now. The hosannas will fade like the last notes of a half-remembered song, and in their place comes a malevolent, oppressive evil. Holy Week is upon us, and there is no turning back.”

As we enter into Lent, we know that Holy Week lies on the other side of these 40 days. And though its completion is marked with triumphant joy, there is no “skip to the end” option here. The only way out is through, but it is not even our burden to bear — “We come only to hear, to receive, to be repented.”

As you prepare for Holy Week, we invite you to take advantage of our brand new, free Holy Week Planning Guide, courtesy of Pastor Mark Anderson, which includes weekly planning outlines, Bible studies, activities, liturgies, and hymns. Access the guide: https://lutherhouseofstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HolyWeekPlanner.pdf 

LENT GUIDE

As we enter the 40-day season of Lent, Luther House of Study is offering a new Lent Planning Guide from Pastor Mark Anderson. He describes, “It seems to be set up for ‘What I have to do,’ for pastors to start giving people examples of Christian living, but Lent is all about what God has done.” 

The guide offers the following free resources to help pastors preach the Gospel with clarity.

Visit: Preparing for Lent with Pastor Mark Anderson - Luther House of Study 

GOSPEL 

Luke 4:1-13

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.' "

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' "

9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' 11 and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " 12 Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

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