Friday, January 06, 2012
Jesus in the desert
(Temptation)
Luke 4:1-14
1 Jesus, full of the
Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2
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. 3 The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4
Jesus answered, “It
is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.” 5 The
devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms
of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their
authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I
want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8
Jesus answered, “It
is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” 9
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the
temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10
For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you
carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. “13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
14 Jesus returned to
Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole
countryside.so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. “13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Since
today’s reading is longer I will just make some quick observations that I hope
you will meditate on.
1)
Satan doesn’t change his tactics; just the way he wraps it up. He tempted Jesus in the same manner he
tempted Eve. He appealed to the physical
appetite – To Eve: You may eat of any tree (Gen. 3:1). To Jesus: You may eat by changing stones to
bread (this is at the end of a 40 day fast).
He appealed to personal gain – To Eve: You will not die (Gen. 3:4). To
Jesus: You will not hurt your foot. He
appealed to power or glory – To Eve: You will be like God (Gen. 3:5). To Jesus: You will have all the world’s
kingdoms.
2)
Jesus combats Satan’s temptations with God’s Word. Three passages out of
Deuteronomy are all Jesus used to fend off the devil (Deut. 8:3, 6:13,
6:16). Like Dr. E.V. Hill says, “When
the devil calls, hit him with the Word of God!”
3)
The Spirit led Jesus into the desert (or wilderness). While temptation does not come from God;
victory over temptation does. Something
good happens in us when we rely on God to give us victory over
temptations. Notice verse 14 – Jesus returned
to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.
He was led by the Spirit into the desert and came through the desert
walking in the power of the Spirit. Here’s
an important question: Do I want to walk in the power of the Spirit?
4)
Satan would do anything to keep Jesus from suffering. Satan had the audacity to offer Jesus comfort
over suffering, bread over hunger and temporal glory over God’s glory. Do you remember when Jesus explained to his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be killed and
on the third day be raised to life? After hearing that Peter told the Lord that
he would never let that happen. Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter? “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do
not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matt.
16:23). Satan's aim in the desert was to hinder Jesus from
suffering. The suffering and death of Jesus meant the final destruction of
Satan and the salvation of you and me.
If Satan did that to Jesus he will do the same to you and me. I believe
the thing that Satan fears most in this church is an outpouring of the Holy
Spirit that causes us to say with Paul, "I count everything as refuse that
I might gain Christ . . . that I might know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death"(Philippians 3:10).
5) For your personal reflection three questions to
ponder: Do you think Jesus agonized over these temptations? Who was in charge during this conflict? What do you learn about your own personal
temptations from this story?
6) Finally some practical applications. The desert isn’t about you it’s about
God. Your temptations aren’t about you,
they’re about God. Your spiritual
journey isn’t about you it’s about God. When you’re tempted remember God’s
word. Claim God’s word. Stand on God’s
word (if you get confused go back to the first three applications). When you’re tempted don’t rely on your
emotions…rely on God’s Word!
In the desert the Spirit is with you, Jesus is with you,
God is with you. The victory is yours.
When it’s all said and done – we’ll walk out in the power
of the Holy Spirit!
Comments:
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I am glad that Temptation does not come from God, but that victory over temptation does. If it was only in my will to win I would surely fail, but through Christ all things are possible.
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