But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. Luke 11:22 KJV
But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. Luke 11:22 NASB
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” John 16:33 KJV
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NASB
The title of “Overcomer” is found frequently in John’s writings. We have all been reminded, from earliest days, that we face a three-fold enemy: the world, flesh, and the devil. For us, the battle rages until we are home with the Lord. By the Spirit of God’s indwelling power and by the Word of God, we are enabled to be overcomers.
But the Lord Jesus was also an “overcomer” while He was here. He overcame the world. All of its values were vanity to Him. He did not live for its approval or smile. All that the world esteemed as important, all that it gave its approval to, did not influence Him. Leaders gather the notable and wealthy around themselves as their followers. He chose a group of “unlearned” men as His disciples. He could not “boast” of an entourage that impressed others. Power, possessions, and prestige were counted by Him as the “small dust of the balance.”
Nothing deterred Him from His course; nothing hindered His fulfilling the will of God. The appeal of family and the attacks of His
enemies left Him unmoved and unscathed. He was an overcomer.
He overcame Satan. We are most familiar with the defeat which Satan endured in the wilderness when he attempted to move the Lord Jesus from His pathway of dependence and devotion. But the subtle and not so subtle attacks of Satan continued throughout His life. The suggestion of Satan, made first in the wilderness, was to show people Who He was by casting Himself down; it was echoed by His own family at Satan’s instigating: “Depart hence and go into Judea that Thy disciples also may see the works that Thou doest. For there is no man who doeth anything in secret and He Himself seeketh to be known openly” (John 7:3, 4). “Show everyone Who you are!” was first encountered in the wilderness and now in the home. The same sentiment was flung at Him while on the cross. In effect, He was told to come down and show everyone Who He was. But He overcame Satan.
It never, however, says that He overcame the flesh. Here was one enemy, one foe, He did not have. There may have been an external enemy, an infernal enemy, but there was no internal enemy. He had no “flesh” principle to overcome. He was spotless and pure. “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).
Consider:
Notice the principle of the three temptations Satan placed before the Lord Jesus in the wilderness, and then trace them throughout His life, coming at times from the lips of friends and foes.