Transformed – teen devotion – March 9, 2025

One key truth: Jesus is our perfect substitute and conquering victor over sin, death, and the devil.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 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.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
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. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:1-13

One Stands; Everyone Else Sits

Jesus’ public ministry didn’t start off slow—it kicked off with some serious action. Right after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, he went straight into the wilderness for 40 days of fasting. No food. No water. Just Jesus, alone, physically drained, and totally human. And that’s exactly when Satan decided to strike.

The prince of darkness saw his chance. He threw out every tempting offer he could—power, food, glory—all to try and distract Jesus from his mission. If he could just get Jesus to cave, to forget why he left heaven in the first place, then the whole plan of saving us from our sins would fall apart.

But Satan should have known who he was messing with. Every single temptation was shut down by the power of God’s Word. Jesus stood firm. Satan never stood a chance. This was a total victory—just like the one that would come a few years later when Jesus gave his life on the cross outside Jerusalem. His death paid for our sins. His blood washed us clean. And that victory? It wasn’t just for that moment—it’s ours today, tomorrow, and forever.

Right now, you may be chilling—scrolling through your phone, maybe sitting in a comfy chair. That’s cool. But don’t forget: while we sit, Jesus stood. He stood against Satan. He stood in our place. And because he won, we don’t have to fight this battle alone.

Victory is already ours.

Prayer:
Thank you, Almighty God, for cleansing me of my sin and calling me your own. Use your Word to remind me daily of Christ’s victory and help me seek to serve you alone in all I think, say, and do. Amen.