Today we are going to be looking at The Temptation of Jesus. Obviously there were temptations throughout all of the life of Jesus. The night before the cross we see him wrestling with the temptation to avoid it.
Now when we look at this passage we will see that there are ways in which his temptations are like ours. We see how the devil baits the temptation with things that appeal to our flesh. We see his schemes and manipulation, and of course the end-game that he has in mind. However, there are also ways in which the temptation of Jesus is not like ours. We see a direct personal presence of the devil in this temptation. Although we do deal with spiritual powers it is not in this way and on this level. Also, Jesus was presented a situation of temptation (external). But he never contemplated and fantasized over giving in to them (internally). When we encounter temptations internally, we also have an aspect of our flesh that we must wrestle with. Jesus perfectly rebuffed the devil both externally and internally. We have not.
In Luke 4:1-2 we see that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Now picture the fact that John the Baptist had just publically declared that Jesus was the One who was to come, i.e. the messiah. And, yet, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness away from everyone for 40 days. I’m sure this set up a lot of speculation among the people of Judea. Yet, note that before Jesus begins his ministry, he goes through a time of testing.
Being “Led by the Spirit” is all through the Old Testament in concept. But this particular phrase shows up in two other places. In Romans 8:14 we are told, “As many as are led by the Spirit these are the sons of God.” Also in Galatians 5:18, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Notice that being led by the Spirit is connected to Sonship and Freedom. Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. All the rest of us are adopted because of the grace of Jesus. Also, He purchases us out from under slavery to walk in the freedom of sons. The image of a servant in the house of God versus the freedom of being a son is brought into focus.
It says that he was tempted over the course of 40 days. The devil sought any way in which he could disqualify the present contender for Messiah. I’m sure the devil heard the strange things said of Jesus by the angel Gabriel. Clearly he calls out all stops in order to personally take out Jesus. Now it is interesting that just as Moses led Israel into the Sinai to become servants under the law. Jesus leads us to Calvary to become sons under the law of the Spirit (freedom in Christ). This interesting parallel between Israel and Jesus is brought to fulfillment in Jesus. Out of Egypt God calls Israel to do a work for Him. But first he leads them into the wilderness where they are tempted and tried. There are many reasons he did it this way. But one in particular is because they were acting out the life of Jesus. He too came out of Egypt in order to do the will of God, and yet spends time in the wilderness being tempted and tried. The real difference being that where Israel failed in the flesh, Jesus was completely victorious.
The passage also tells us that Jesus was fasting in prayer. Now the wilderness becomes a picture of a time of testing and trying of our faith in God. In fact, early Christians referred to this world as “the wilderness” and saw heaven as the “promised land.” Thus all of life is a testing and trying of our faith. However, it is also a picture of intimacy with God. When we enter into seasons of faith that are particularly dry and trying we will need to follow the example of the saints, and Jesus before us, who denied their flesh food in order to go to God in “seeking prayer.” Jesus fasted to show where His true faith and hopes were; in God alone. It is in the wilderness that God is bringing us to a place where He can reveal Himself to us in a powerful and intimate way. The surroundings are not a picnic, but the relationship with God is worth it. What are your hopes and faith leaning on?
In this passage we are told about 3 particular temptations. It appears that he was tempted more than this, but these become the ones that are important for us to know. The first temptation is in verses 3-4.
The devil tempts Jesus to use his power to please his flesh. “If you are the Son of God then command these stones to become bread.” Jesus was definitely hungry and the devil hits him when his flesh is weakest. “If” can imply doubt about His divinity. However, it is at least an assertion that is intended to manipulate Jesus. You can almost hear him say to us, “If you are a child of God you shouldn’t be going hungry.” Now notice that it is irrelevant whether the devil doubts you are a child of God. The function of the if is to kick you in the gut about doubts you may have. We can’t turn rocks into bread. We can however, be tempted to use our own power to please our flesh. Do I lack trust in God when it looks like He is providing rocks in the desert? Am I tempted to “overturn” the provision of God by trying to provide for myself? Notice that all of this is wrapped up in religious language. In the name of God we reject His provision and try to provide for ourselves. Jesus points the devil back to God’s provision. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Here we see the backhanded rebuke. Satan fell through his own discontentment with God’s provision for him. If we are content with what God provides we will find life. But discontent leads to death.
The second temptation takes place up on a high mountain. It appears that there is a vision happening as well because the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. The high mountain itself is a symbol of the proud governments of this world. The devil offers Jesus the glory and power of this world, if Jesus will only bow down and worship him. Here is a secret: most people in places of power in this world got there by serving the devil. Now to be honest, the glory and power of this world is real, but for only a short season. It is empty in the end and leads to a tragic place. Revelation 20:10 tells us that the devil who deceives this world will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. So too will all those who worship him. All the pomp, glory, and power of this world will not be able to deliver them in the end. Why do pop artists love to flash occult symbols all the time in their clothing and videos? They do so in order to show their worship and homage to the “god of this world” the devil. In doing so, they sell their souls for the sake of glory and power. Jesus reminds the devil of his own problem. He has been seduced by his own logic. He has come to worship only himself and desires all to join him in this great worship of himself. He fell from grace because he chose worshipping himself over God.
The third temptation happens in Jerusalem on top of the Temple. This would be some 45 to 50 feet in the air. Satan tempts Jesus to force the hand of God by jumping off the temple. In fact we see the devil quoting Scripture here as a device to manipulate Jesus to do so. The twisting of these Scriptures should be studied and recognized because he does this all the time through the cults and false teachings of the present day. Sometimes the word “presume or presumption” is brought up in this situation. Thus the sin would be doing our own sin because we think God will back us up. This is happening here, but it also goes deeper than just presuming. The use of Scripture involves trying to use God’s Word against Him, or to force Him to do something we want and on our time table. Jesus reminds him not just that it would be tempting God to sin. But, that the devil, in tempting Jesus, was literally tempting the Lord his God. In fact, from the very moment it was found out that the devil was a sinner he continued to pursue a life that challenges God to judge him. Many today almost dare the God of heaven to judge them because they have become so convinced of their own “rightness.” Beware the spirit and attitude that challenges God. “Lord, if I really am your child, then prove it by turning these rocks into bread.” Here we cast off trust and use threats for God to prove himself. The sad thing is that God will always prove Himself. However, love must be free, not forced. How can we say, “God if you really love me then it must be in the way I say.” We may never say it, but like temptation number two we tell the Lord that if he will serve our glory hungry flesh then we will give him what he wants. We need to not just see that these are the very words of the devil himself. But to also recognize that they cast aside true faith and love and ask God to cheapen Himself and let us be God and He be the slave. The sad thing is that God loves to serve mankind, however, as He chooses and in freedom. God has moved heaven and earth in order to serve mankind. He has lowered himself to the lowest place possible and made Himself fully vulnerable to man. But He will not allow us to take His throne and command His love as our treacherous hearts dictate. God forgive us, but this is the core of our fallen hearts. Only by the power of the Spirit of God can such a spirit of wickedness be broken in any of our lives. God help us!