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Does Beelzebub have a devil put aside for me?

February 22, 2026

Luzifer verführt Adam und Eva engraving by Gustav Dore 1866

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

I feel conflicted. What am I supposed to make of this malevolent and crafty figure who appears throughout scripture – Satan, a.k.a. the Devil? While this character assumes various forms, today’s lessons focus on Satan “The Tempter”, who sweet-talks Eve in the Garden of Eden and later meets Jesus in the dessert to test him at the start of his ministry.  If you’ve never heard these stories, I’ll just say… it doesn’t end well for Adam and Eve. But Jesus dismisses “The Tempter” with some of the best come-back lines of all time – like when Satan challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger and Jesus replies “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus knows exactly what this guy is selling to and he’s not buying any of it.

During one of his walks on earth, Satan “The Accuser” comes upon a righteous man named Job. In conversation with God, he whines that Job only remains faithful because he is prosperous and lives a blessed life. God gives Satan permission to test Job and Satan gives it his best shot – destroying Job’s home, killing his livestock and his farmhands and finally killing all his children. Job’s body is covered in sores; his wife, who witnesses Job’s distress, cries “Curse God and die, already.” He laments his condition “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer”; but through it all Job remains faithful. “The Accuser” loses his bet and Job is restored to health and prosperity.

Satan also makes appearances as an “Adversary of God”. 1 Peter warns: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And who can forget the ever-impetuous Peter, who rebukes the Lord when Jesus speaks about the way of the cross; But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

In the liturgy for the Sacrament of Baptism, what are the first two questions posed to the candidate by the celebrant?

Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God? Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?

Our popular culture is also filled with countless references to the evil one. Where would Mick Jagger’s career be without Sympathy for the Devil. C.S. Lewis describes a whole bureaucracy of devils (the “lowerarchy” of hell) in his classic satire The Screwtape Letters. And don’t forget Darth Vader (“Luke! Don’t give in to hate. That leads to the dark side.“) or the evil Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter.

Despite all this notoriety, I still wonder – does this devil character really exist?  I’ve been working on my relationship with God for a long time.  Grace needs to be accepted and acknowledged with a thankful heart, but that’s not always as easy as it sounds. There is this thing called “pride” you see… So, is my reluctance to embrace God with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength just a matter of my own pride and desire to run the universe my way (see earlier reference to outcome of Adam and Eve story)? Or are there actual dark spiritual forces in my midst – throwing up even more obstacles to God’s grace?  I struggle to know the answer. And I don’t need help in failing.

I’ve been a fan of Leonard Cohen’s music and verse for many years. An interesting guy – he lived as an observant Jew but also spent time living a monastic life in a Buddhist monastery. Religious references of many sorts are woven into his often-somber lyrics.  A month before his death, in November of 2016, he released his final album, with the title track:  

You Want it Darker. Hear it here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nmHymgM7Y    

For me this is a deeply moving song about the human condition and our ability and willingness to turn from God and embrace evil – “You want it darker? We kill the flame. “(Ask me what “hineni” means).

Is Satan an actual fallen angel – a spiritual creature of darkness who prowls around in the dark places of our souls and encourages us to make bad choices, or is he just a projection of our own rebellious and sinful self-serving inclinations? Folks my age may remember Flip Wilson’s character Geraldine Jones whose favorite catch phrase was: “The Devil made me do it!”  (You younger folks will just have to Google it). It wasn’t Geraldine who bought that expensive dress – it was the Devil who made her do it. Is the devil just a fall guy to take the blame for our own failings? I have absolutely no doubt that evil exists in the world, and that evil causes immense pain and human suffering, but what is the source? I would never bet against the imagination and creativity of the human heart to create and promote injustice, act cruelly and cause misery to other people while damaging God’s creation.

There is no deficit of evil in the world and regardless of the status of Beelzebub’s actual existence, what are we to do in the face of temptation, accusation and adversity – be it home-brewed or sponsored by Lucifer & Associates, LLC? Do we despair and give up? Curse God and die? I certainly hope not!  While evil may seem strong and persistent, I feel confident that God is more powerful and eternal.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  Ephesians 6:11  The armor of God includes righteousness, peace, truth, faith, salvation, and God’s Word.

Don’t stand alone.  That’s what communities like St. Luke’s are for. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

And keep on praying – I hear that drives the devil crazy. Have a Holy Lent.

Paul Brookes