The life of Jesus – 5
August 2, 2014
As we continue our study on the life of Jesus we see what happened after he was baptized. During his baptism the Holy Spirit came on him and he was filled to the fullness. His first assignment after being filled was not to go and preach. Instead the Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness. This is so contrary to what I have heard so many Christians say and believe. They don’t think that wilderness experiences are for us.
Luke 4:1-4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The spirit of God led Jesus to the temptation to be tested. God will not do that! Yes He will. You see the truth is that God is confident enough that what He has done in you will stand the test that might come against you. Temptation is not a problem for God that cannot be tempted. This happens not that God can see if it works, it happens so that you can see that it works. What God imparts is above the possibility of being pulled away and drawn after lust.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
For forty days Jesus was tempted of the devil. This must be one of the hardest things to do. I don’t think that the devil was letting up on Jesus during this time. He must have been relentless. Remember how Daniel prayed for 21 days before the answer came. Something tells me that the devil has a breaking point. He can’t last more than 40 days then he gives up. How does that compare to God that never gives up. The devil gave it his best shot and he lost. Forty days and he had to take a break. He will come again and try but compared to God who never takes a break the devil fails in comparison to God’s ability to sustain us. I hear people say that the devil is relentless. I have news for you. God is more relentless in his pursuit of us.
I wonder what he tempted Jesus with during those forty days. It is not recorded what he was tempted with but I know that Jesus was tempted in every way we are. I believe God left it out so that we can fill in the blank. What are you tempted with today? Jesus was too. What are you struggling with overcoming today? Jesus overcame it for you too.
After the forty days the recorded temptations happened. Lets look at this briefly. He started to get hungry. The best shot the devil could come up with was: “If you are the son of God:
This age old trick would soon meet its demise. The enemy is attacking Jesus identity. This would not be the last time Jesus would hear this accusation. During his ministry they would request him to prove it by doing some miracles. The enemy like to attack who we are because he fears that when we know who we are, we will live like who we really are. If you get attacked like that it should be a clue. You carry something that scares the hell into the enemy. You see he lost his identity and he is the original orphan that does not have a Father’s house to go to anymore. Because he is an orphan he wants to make us feel like orphans too. Remember that I said he doesn’t give up.
When Jesus was crucified this very temptation would come back. One of the thieves on the cross would become a personification of Adam and one thief would be a personification of satan. The one as Adam would cry for mercy and say: “Think about me when you come to your Fathers house today.” The one personifying satan would say: “If you are the son of God get us out of here.” The same words the enemy used in the temptation. That day on that cross both the old Adam and satan would die with Jesus. Looking at the one that represented Adam Jesus said: “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Adam would be saved but satan would be judged. The new man would rise with a new identity while the enemy would remain under judgment.
Gal 2:20 I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.
Are you glad God never gives up. There is no limit to His ability. Let me close with this scripture.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you no knowledge of it? Has it not come to your ears? The eternal God, the Lord, the Maker of the ends of the earth, is never feeble or tired; there is no searching out of his wisdom. He gives power to the feeble, increasing the strength of him who has no force. Even the young men will become feeble and tired, and the best of them will come to the end of his strength; But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness.
