It was the Serpent

Lent 1- February 22, 2026

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11

Several years ago I had a discussion with a women about Baptism. She was attacking our practice of baptizing infants. Her main argument was that you had to ask to be baptized for it to be valid. I explained to her that we understand that as works righteousness. She then said it was an empty rite because, for a child, there was no sin to be forgiven. While stating that Paul would have disagreed with her, I pointed out to her that Baptism is God’s gift and then asked why she would delay a child from receiving it. She returned to her first statement about having to choose to be baptized.

I remembered this encounter while reading our texts for today. They certainly are Lenten texts – talking about temptation, sin, and forgiveness. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis is one of the most well-known in the Bible. It also is often misquoted. Especially when it comes to the serpent. The serpent is not Satan. It was just another creature who lived in the garden. If you remember, for punishment it lost its legs. Also, it was not an apple that they ate. And, what is evil about realizing that you are naked? While this is a well known and much quoted passage for Christians it is seen as a minor text to the Jews. This story is probably a bit of oral tradition that was told to explain why life is difficult and our lifespan is limited. We read it today because it is referenced by Paul in our reading from Romans. Here Paul is saying that sin and death came into the world through one man, Adam, (the concept of original sin) and that the punishment was forgiven by another man – Jesus. That relief did not come easy. As we also heard today Jesus himself was tempted. Although, unlike us, Jesus did not succumb. This is not the only time Jesus was tempted. Another time was in the Garden of Gethsemane – more about that later.

It is good for us to hear these texts on this first Sunday in Lent to remind us of our own temptations and how we, too often, give in to them. They are not unlike those Jesus suffered at the beginning of his ministry. Temptations to find a way to forgo responsibility and live a life full of riches and favors that put us above others. In other words to be somebody other than ourselves. That is what sin is, in the end – an attempt to be creator and not creature. To be someone other than ourselves. 

That is what Lent is for. While we should practice the discipline of Lent – prayer, fasting, and works of love – all yearlong, we emphasize it this time as we walk with Jesus on his journey to the cross. This is to remind us of how far we have fallen from God’s expectation and how wonderful God’s gifts to us have been. Those gifts include ourselves, our time, our possessions, and our salvation – our whole life. Gifts that we are called to share with the world. Use this Lenten season to get better acquainted with God so that you can boldly share God’s abundant love with all the world.