For 25 years, Irmela Mensah-Schramm has walked the streets of Berlin, Germany, cleaning away the racist propaganda of neo-Nazi groups. Since 1986, Irmela has painted over graffiti and scratched away stickers (36,000 in the past 4 years). She believes she can overcome neo-Nazi ideology one street at a time.
When God placed Adam and Eve in Eden, all was theirs to enjoy, “except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). They couldn’t handle that knowledge, and eating its fruit would lead to death. The serpent arrived with the cunning suggestion that God was not to be trusted, however, and Eve listened. She was tempted in three distinct ways—temptations we all know: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16 NKJV).
Sadly, Eve yielded, and humans have yielded ever since. There is One, however, who did not yield. Just before Jesus began His public ministry, He was in the wilderness fasting for 40 days. And, again, the Tempter arrived. He used the same tactics, suggesting that Jesus take matters into His own hands. Satan suggested to Jesus:
• “Tell these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matthew 4:3).
• Toss Yourself from the pinnacle of the temple (forcing God’s hand to rescue Him before the right time, Matthew 4:6).
• Take over Jerusalem and imagine ruling over all the kingdoms of the world! (Matthew 4:8).
Jesus was tempted with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. But He didn’t yield. Jesus overcame the temptation that has ruined us—what we could never conquer. In every way, He does for us what we could never do on our own.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Deuteronomy 30:1-20
More:
Review the two read> passages in Genesis and Matthew. Mark the similarities and the differences between these two temptation stories.
Next:
Where are you facing the fiercest temptation right now: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life? How does the fact that Jesus has already overcome the tempter help you to deal with your temptation?
dabac on February 24, 2012 at 9:49 am
Good post!
However, I didn’t understand the connection with the Irmela Mensah-Schramm story and the rest of devotional.
winn collier on February 26, 2012 at 10:23 am
You know, I did a poor job of storytelling here. Irmela worked tirelessly to undo Nazi racism, one street at a time. Jesus re-entered the very narrative of human temptation (tempted the same as Adam and Eve) and undid Adam and Eve’s rebellion, one temptation at a time. Thanks for working through my muffled words.
dabac on April 24, 2012 at 4:22 am
I see now.
Thanks for clarifying!
mike wittmer on February 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I like your analysis, Winn. I am struck by how reasonable, and even spiritual, Jesus’ temptations were. Why not make some bread, trust God to throw yourself off the temple, or get the world you came to claim? Satan sure is sneaky.
winn collier on February 26, 2012 at 10:25 am
Sneaky’s right. I wonder how many “good” things we participate in – that are really distracting temptations.
daisymarygoldr on February 24, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Good post on two temptations, Winn Collier! One thing that needs to be noted is that sometimes Satan quotes scripture to tempt. In other words, giving in to some temptations will seem harmless and may even appear as right in our own eyes.
So, how do we discern when things are not black and white? The key is: the tempter twists scripture in such a way so as to lift self and lower God. The lure of the bait is in self-seeking, self-serving, self-satisfaction, self-ambition, self-indulgence, and self-worship at the cost of doubting God, denying the truth and lowering His standard.
To deal with temptations, we must yield—to be controlled by the Holy Spirit who will enable us to overcome just the way Jesus did.
sherb on February 24, 2012 at 10:52 pm
dabac, I believe the connection between the 2 stories is that the same way Jesus overcame Satans temptations, one at a time, we have the power to overcome them as well, with the help of the Lord.
Irmela Mensah-Schramm’s goal seems to be to overcome all the ugliness brought about as a result of the neo-Nazi propaganda, one street at a time. Her mission, to cleanse away the ugliness expressed through the graffitti, is being waged by the cleansing of the walls with paint and the muscle needed to scratch away the stickers.
The battle Jesus was in with Satan was won with His blood. It cleanses and forgives each and every one of us for every sin that we could ever commit.
Each of these wars has a great impact, however, the impact of the war won by Jesus is eternal and everlasting. I hope this helps.