Jesus won the victory over Satan in the desert at all three levels of Body, Soul and Spirit
Jesus Ready for Battle
In Luke 4:1-13 we read:
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
Temptation #1
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Temptation #2
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him,
“I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Temptation #3
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. He said, “Throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Jesus' Victory Over Satan In The Desert
Jesus' victory over Satan in the desert was key to God's plan of saving humanity from going to a lost Christless eternity in hell. For if Jesus had bowed down and worshipped Satan in response to his offer to give him authority over all this world's kingdoms, he would have handed over total control of heaven and earth - Satan's original goal of wanting to be God before he was banished to earth.
It was also important because it was victory at the three levels of warfare we encounter with Satan - Body, Soul and Spirit.