By now you know that the Biggest Story is all about Jesus. He’s our Deliverer–Savior–Snake Crusher–Lord. You also know that he’s the fulfillment of lots of old promises and amazing prophecies.

But that’s not all. Jesus didn’t just fulfill specific verses from the Old Testament. Jesus lived out and transformed the whole story of the Old Testament. Jesus was the long-awaited Son of David and the long-predicted seed of Abraham. He was also the one to relive Israel’s story and finally get it right.

Israel left Egypt, crossed through the Red Sea, and then wandered in the desert for forty years.

Jesus left Egypt in Matthew 2, entered the Jordan River in Matthew 3, and then was tempted in the wilderness for forty days in Matthew 4.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he wasn’t just being tested by the devil. He was being tested like Adam was in the garden of Eden and like Israel was in the desert of Sinai. Except where they failed, Jesus would not.

Three times the devil tempted Jesus.

Jesus hadn’t eaten for forty days and forty nights. “Why not turn these stones into bread?” the devil hissed.

“Because man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the top of the temple. “Why not jump off and let the angels catch you?”

“Because it is wrong to put the Lord your God to the test.”

A third time the devil tempted him. “Look at all the kingdoms of the world. Why not bow down to me, and they can be yours?”

“Because you shall worship the Lord your God and him alone.”

The devil wanted Jesus to clamor for bread (like Israel had done) and put God to the test (like Israel had done) and worship other gods (like Israel had also done). Three times the devil tried. Three times he failed. Three times the Son of God was tempted. Three times he passed the test.

Jesus loved God’s word more than he loved the easy way out. He trusted God’s way more than he trusted the slithering serpent. Jesus knew his Father was on his side, even when it might not have felt that way, and that the devil was not on his side, even when he pretended to be.