The Temptation of Jesus Christ

The Temptation of Jesus Christ

Jesus had just been baptised. The Spirit of God had descended like a dove and rested upon Him and a voice from heaven had proclaimed ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ 

Then, immediately after this wonderful event, Jesus was ‘led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.’

The Spirit led Him into the wilderness but it was the devil who did the tempting.

Jesus fasted for forty days and nights and was weak and hungry. It was in this time of physical weakness that the devil comes to tempt him with the very thing that Jesus physically needed most right then, food.  And not only that, he tempts Jesus to prove that He is indeed God’s Son by making stones into bread.

‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’

But it wasn’t God’s timing or way for Jesus to be fed right then. Yes He would shortly be supernaturally fed by angels. But He wasn’t to use His supernatural ability to perform miracles to prove Himself to the devil or for His own gain.  

Right then Jesus had a purpose to fulfil.

He was to suffer being tempted just as we are so that He could sympathise with and help us in our own times of temptation. 

How does He fight the temptation?

How does Jesus answer the devil?

He takes up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ’ Saying, ‘it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’

This failing, Satan tries again, this time taking Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple and says ‘If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down. For it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee. And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’

Again he tempts Jesus to prove Himself and not only that but to also prove the truth of scripture. 

But if Jesus had jumped from that pinnacle it would’ve been a situation Jesus had created. A danger He had wilfully put Himself in, not a situation He genuinely needed rescuing from.  

God doesn’t have to prove Himself to anyone and certainly not the devil. He is evident all around us if we have the eyes to see Him. 

God does often keep us from danger, but we can’t wilfully put ourselves in danger and expect God to keep us safe, taking scripture out of context for an excuse. 

Again Jesus picks up His sword, showing us how scripture should be used saying… ‘It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’

Now a third time the devil tempts Jesus, taking him to a very high mountain and shows him ‘all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.’ ‘All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.’

What a temptation! 

Jesus had left His Father in heaven and (although God is ultimately in control) come down to earth to win back the world from the rule of Satan.  

To win back precious souls through His perfect life, His death on the cross, taking our punishment in our place, and His resurrection, rising again, bringing new life through Him to all who believe. 

In all His purity he’d grown up among sinners with the knowledge of the cross ever before Him. Now in His weak physical state Satan tempts Him to bypass the cross and gain the world by worshipping him. 

How easily we can persuade ourselves that it’s okay to do wrong if it’s to bring about good but not so with Jesus. 

A little lie so we don’t hurt another? Never! 

Go along with something we don’t agree with so as not to offend? No!

We have the same sword as Jesus ‘get thee hence Satan: for it is written. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.’

‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’

And just as they did with Jesus angels will minister to you.

‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.’

Your Friend in the Battle

Matt 4:1-11, Eph 6:17, James 4:7-8

For more thoughts on scripture click here