Luke 4_5
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the evil one. In this passage I see dont see a timid Jesus. I find a relentless Messiah who refuses to compromise. He has finished a 40 day fast and Satan came at Him with 3 temptations. Satan was precise with his attack on Adam and Eve, he found their fatal spot, now he was coming at Jesus with the same deadly accuracy.
I was puzzled when reading this, Why does Satan tempt Jesus with these three 1) turn a stone into bread, 2) offer him all the kingdoms of the world, 3) and urge him to jump off a high place in order to test the promise of physical safety. Where is the evil in these temptations?
Satan wanted Jesus to detour from his mission, for him to change the rules, to achieve his goals by a shortcut. Leaders dont take shortcuts; there are no shortcuts in leading well. Jesus would not be detoured or compromised.
He refuses to be blindsided by Satans twisting of scripture. So Jesus gave it right back, using Gods Word appropriately of course until Satan decided that it would be better to come back another time (Luke 14:3)
Why did Jesus subject himself to the temptation of Satan? When I feel temptations rising up in me, I return to this story. Jesus resistance preserves for me the freedom I exercise when I resist my own temptations.
Hebrews 4:15
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
another thought - there were only 2 people who experienced this. Satan and Jesus. In order for us to get this story in all 4 gospels it means Jesus had to tell it. What humility of him to tell his disicples about his battling with temptation. What a gift this passage is to us. thank you God for letting me know that you wrestled and won over temptation, and that I have that same power in me and in your written word.
I was puzzled when reading this, Why does Satan tempt Jesus with these three 1) turn a stone into bread, 2) offer him all the kingdoms of the world, 3) and urge him to jump off a high place in order to test the promise of physical safety. Where is the evil in these temptations?
Satan wanted Jesus to detour from his mission, for him to change the rules, to achieve his goals by a shortcut. Leaders dont take shortcuts; there are no shortcuts in leading well. Jesus would not be detoured or compromised.
He refuses to be blindsided by Satans twisting of scripture. So Jesus gave it right back, using Gods Word appropriately of course until Satan decided that it would be better to come back another time (Luke 14:3)
Why did Jesus subject himself to the temptation of Satan? When I feel temptations rising up in me, I return to this story. Jesus resistance preserves for me the freedom I exercise when I resist my own temptations.
Hebrews 4:15
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
another thought - there were only 2 people who experienced this. Satan and Jesus. In order for us to get this story in all 4 gospels it means Jesus had to tell it. What humility of him to tell his disicples about his battling with temptation. What a gift this passage is to us. thank you God for letting me know that you wrestled and won over temptation, and that I have that same power in me and in your written word.