THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS

Luke 4:1-13

Key Verse: 4:4

 “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone.”’”

             In today’s passage, Jesus comes face to face with the devil, experiencing life threatening situations and extreme temptations in the wilderness. We might face similar temptations, maybe not as extreme, but definitely just as dangerous, for any temptation we face has the same power to destroy. We fall into temptations time after time. They destroy our relationship with God, and they ruin our chance to live a holy life for God’s glory, and they lead us to doubt God’s promises. Jesus is very great. He did not crack under the pressure of extreme temptations to doubt God’s love, his purpose and his plan. We thank God for Jesus our Lord, who was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. By remaining faithful to God in spite of the Devil’s prodding, Jesus came to know the depth of all human despair and the source of all our shame and grief. He knows what we are going through. But he also experienced the victory that comes from trusting and obeying the right word of God in each situation. He faced the temptations as a human being. He endured them and overcame them as a real man. I pray that this study may teach us the way to victory in our temptations and help us recognize the greatness of Jesus our Lord.  

1. In the wilderness

            Look at verse 1&2. “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 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.” We saw last week when Jesus came to John for a baptizing. Then the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” It looked like the moment Jesus would begin his campaign for the seat of power in Israel as the true Messiah. Something like accepting the party nomination for president. The people might be expecting an acceptance speech and a declaration of Jesus’ great vision for the new messianic kingdom. But it did not happen. He should visit Jerusalem right away to meet with the leaders and workout a strategy for delivering Israel from Roman Rule, but Jesus did not bother with that. Instead of following the political powers that be, and the hope of the people at large, Jesus followed the Holy Spirit out into the desert. Soon he came to a desolate wilderness with wild animals creeping around, like wolves and snakes an scorpions. Jesus spent 40 days fasting there. It is hard to imagine. We get irritable if we miss one meal in the day. If we miss two meals we become unbearable. Jesus spent over one month with nothing to eat. He might be like skin and bones and very weak. It was hard to imagine it is possible. I read of some political prisoners who lived from 46 to 73 days without food. They had some salt water to live on. Some died, but some that lived were later elected to public offices. Humans can survive a while without food. But they get really weak and frail. I only imagined that Jesus just sat in a cave and prayed.

            The interesting thing to me is that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for this test. It looks like punishment of some kind, but it was not. God led Jesus to the wilderness and kept his food so he may face the devil in the most extreme condition of human weakness. God is mysterious like that. But he knows humans very well. The study guide let me compare Jesus and Adam and the things they had in common. One thing they had in common was that they had to decided whether to obey God or listen to the devil. Also, the consequences of their individual decisions had power to affect all mankind’s eternal destiny. What is very different are their circumstances. Adam had anything and everything he could want to eat before the devil came to him, but when his wife said, “Hey, knowing good and evil is fun, come and try” Adam fell right away. Earthly man is like that. When they have everything they want, they tend to forget God. When they forget God, they desire what God does not want them to have. After thinking of that situation, I could see God’s wisdom in leading Jesus to become so hungry and so alone in the desert rather to a garden paradise. God knows best. Rather than let his son face the devil as a pampered prince, after a giant pizza party, God let Jesus get hungry. And he did get hungry, but apparently not just for food. Luke wrote about three temptations. The primary goals of each one looks like tricking Jesus to worship or obey the devil by leading him to doubt God’s love and promises. Let’s think about each one. 

2. Man does not live on bread alone.

            His body might be frail and his mind suffering hallucinations under the hot sun, as the wolves and vultures keep their eyes on Jesus, waiting for him to collapse. He was surely hungry. In such a state, many thoughts might be of something to eat. He might only think of a loaf of bread for several days. But there was nothing. Just rocks and sand, and wind. As a human being, there was one thing Jesus needed in order to survive, but God did not let him have it. That’s when the devil tried his first temptation. Let’s read verse 3. “The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."” The first words the devil said were, “If you are the son of God...” This tries to make Jesus doubt the word of God which he heard from heaven just a few weeks ago before. It is the devil’s way to tell humans things that are just the opposite of God’s word so they will doubt God’s love. Jesus heard God say, You are my son whom I love... but the devil tried to make Jesus think the opposite. If God were your father would he you starve in the desert like this? Surely he will give you whatever you want. So just tell the stone to  become bread. The main temptations here are doubting God’s love, and leveraging human hunger to have something God did not want Jesus to have at the moment. Temptations like this are common to man. It is very strong when we see something we want which God did not provide.

            There is a big sin in wanting what God has withheld from us by various methods. The sin is to take God’s grace for granted. Remember the huge crowd who tried to make Jesus king so they could have free bread? When Jesus challenged them to take up their cross and follow him, they all waked away. They took his compassion and grace for granted. Their sin was wanting God’s blessings without paying the price of discipleship. Jesus could make bread, but he chose to wait on God to provide, rather that solve his hunger problem in the devil’s way. Jesus had a mission to crush the devil’s head and destroy his authority over mankind forever. This was the beginning of the fight. To win the victory, Jesus had to fight according to God’s instructions, no the devils.

            This kind of temptation comes to us many times in this life. When were you hungry for something that God did not provide you at the moment? Did you hear the devil whisper in your ear, “Go ahead. You can have it?” I like to rail on the software pirates. Many are tempted in the present technological wilderness, when they see the latest version of Microsoft Word. They think they really need it, but  when we see the price tag we get tempted to listen to the devil. He says, “Microsoft has enough money. Just copy the CD from your friend or a bootleg and install it.” We quickly fall into such temptations. That is a small example. In the big picture, there is sin in wanting what God has not provided or what he does not want us to have at the moment. God did not want Jesus to have bread at the moment. Jesus knew God could send bread at any time, so he told the devil about God’s word.

            Let’s read verse 4. “Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone.”” That word came to Israel just before the second gens took over the promised land. Jesus remembered their forty year journey, maybe in the same desert, when they had the chance to learn that God’s word must come first. It happened when Israel left Egypt, and came to the border of the land God promised to Abraham. Ten spies reported that there was no way to go there because the people were too big. The nation was swayed by their bad idea, even though Joshua and Caleb spoke with absolute confidence in God’s promise. Because they doubted God’s words, the people wandered for 40 years in a desert. God gave them manna, so the 2^nd Gens could learn to trust him above all for their daily bread. He let all the doubters die in the desert so the next generation could see that when God gives direction, they should trust and obey it. Jesus had the right attitude. He decided to live by God’s word, so he rejected the devil’s suggestion. 

            The fact that he decided to go on fasting, in order to meditate on God’s word tells us something about mankind. Humans cannot live without the word of God. We can exist exist if we have food and water and air, we call that living. But we cannot really be alive without the word of God. This reveals Jesus’ deepest hunger. He was surely hungry for food, but when he had to choose, regular food or the will of God, Jesus decided to obey God. Above all things he was hungry and thirsty for righteousness that obeys God and lives for God’s glory. He was hungry for God’s purpose to be accomplished. He resisted the temptation to satisfy his natural craving and waited patiently for God to provide him bread by some other way. This was a great victory for Jesus, and excellent training. It taught Jesus to put God’s word and his work first, above all human needs. Jesus learned trust God for everything. Maybe this experience became the inspiration for his famous message, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

            This first temptation was aimed at Jesus’ physical needs. It relates to the material world we live in and comes to us in many forms. The temptation to have something that makes life comfortable is very great and easily justified. But the real, living human being will choose God’s will above everything.            

3. Worship the Lord your God and serve him only

            Let’s read 5-7. “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."” The second temptation starts with the worship problem. Humans are created to worship God. But in their sinfulness they fall into he trap of worshiping the devil. It may be a visible idol, a bad religion or just a philosophy or idea. What we worship relates closely to what we desire, and in the end, the things we worship lead us to serve either God or the Devil. The devil wants all people to worship him, so he inspires them and tricks them to desire things of this world more than to deny themselves to worship God. The devil tried to make it look rewarding. If you worship me, all the kingdoms of the world will be yours! I wondered how this could be a temptation to Jesus. It might tempt him because he grew up in the poorest part of Israel, amid a mix of Gentiles and his life was probably quite plain. He might really desire something in the world and being king of the world would be the way to have everything in the world. It might tempt him with the idea of world peace and universal happiness. He might say to himself, I could be a good king, who rules with true liberty and justice for all, flashing in his mind. But Jesus shied away. He knew the cost was too high.

            Look what he said in verse 8. “Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'” Jesus has the clearest sense of right and wrong. The word of God was so obvious to him, so he could not accept the kingdoms of the world if it meant disobeying God. Jesus is the real man. He really is the one who worships God and serves God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. By denying himself the glory of this world, Jesus begins the ministry of self denial and obedience that gave him the eternal victory. But there is more. By denying himself the things of this world, in order to serve God, Jesus wins the victory for us too. Listen again to Hebrews 5:8&9. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him....” This reminded me again of the comparison between Adam and Jesus. Adam was a man of the earth, But Jesus, a life giving spirit. Through Adam’s disobedience many were made sinners, but through Jesus’ obedience many will be made righteous.

             One lesson came to my mind when I looked for this kind of temptation in my life. Real people will worship God and bless others. But sinful people will listen to the devil, worship him and enjoy their own little kingdom every chance they get. One thing that stood out is my desire for authority and to be respected among people. Jesus did not seek that at all. He did not seek respect from people, nor the chance to rule over them like the gentiles. He only tried to glorify God in all that he did. He is the son of God. In truth, he deserves the kingdoms of the world. But rather than desire a kingdom with servants who attended his every need, Jesus humbled himself to the lowest place. He took on the form of a servant for sinful man and gave his life to provide us what we truly need. It is Jesus’ good example of true leadership. Denying himself and his rights he also shows how a real person uses the authority God gives them.

            Worshiping something other than God, desire for respect and lust for authority are very subtle temptations. They are built in to our human nature. Sinful man worships created things, and they desire to be number one at all times. Now and then we stand in awe of the greatest among us who do amazing things. We want to be like them or like the popular entertainers. Some people spend hours looking at gorgeous singers, and others do ruthless things to get ahead in the world. How amazing that Jesus, the son of God shunned the life of glory in this world. His people can learn a life changing thing when we see his reply. “Worship the Lord you God and serve him only.” I know the devil tempts me to desire my own kingship everyday. When I see a chance to have someone serve me, I am so proud, thinking in my heart, good servant, I deserve your service. But Jesus did not think like that. He wants me to lookout all the time for chances to serve others. Then he will share the glorious kingdom of God with me. He told me to serve others and give to others when they have needs. But I sit around in my selfishness complaining to God that my wife does not serve me like the king of the castle. I think the devil’s temptations are very real, even if they are much less extravagant in our day to day life. I think I take the bait many times. Please forgive me. 

4. Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

            After Jesus decided not to worship the devil, the devil realized that Jesus was thinking spiritually, that he was determined to put God’s into practice. So the devil tried to meet Jesus on Jesus’ terms. “The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.” Something very human in Jesus was happening at this time. He was not acting with the kind of devil rebuking authority he used later in the Gospels. Now he subjected himself to the spiritual forces that inspire and influence human beings. Jesus was led to the desert by the Holy Spirit, but now the Devil was leading Jesus here and there. I wondered if he was on the very edge of humanity after fasting and tempting and wandering like this. Maybe he looked like a kind of madman when he arrived in the temple, skinny and wasting away from his fasting. Folks might think he came to beg for food. But he just passed by to visit the high point of the temple. It seems like the tower was built for the sake of preaching to large crowds. I thought so because of a legend that one James found in the Bible was thrown down from the same tower when he refused to deny Jesus. He was ordered to go there and tell everyone not to trust Jesus. But he disobeyed and told everyone to believe. 

            The devil knew a leap from the tower could be fatal, especially to a man whose body was so weak. Since Jesus kept on talking about the Word of God, the devil tempted him to live by the word of God. “If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” The devil was saying to Jesus, “OK. If you think your somebody, then prove it! See what the Bible says about you? Make it come true, you son of God!” This one is a really wild work from Satan. He tries to make Jesus doubt the promise of God. He tries to use the word of God to kill, when it is intended to give life. These are the devil’s most treacherous temptations. In Jesus’ case it was a temptation to make God prove his love for his son. It may also tempt Jesus in the most severe of human desires: the desire to rule your own life.

            Let’s read verse 12. Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Jesus saw through the Devil’s plot. He put his trust in God from beginning to end. The devil wanted Jesus to jump from the balcony and die, after trusting that the word of God was altogether literal. Would Jesus have floated to the ground and walked away smiling? Probably. But Jesus had the wiser insight though. He saw the sin which the devil wanted him to commit. It is the sin of exalting himself above God who is in charge of his life. So Jesus decided to trust God with his life, rather than take his life into his own hands. Testing God is to say, I know you exist, but I want you to prove it anyway! It is very proud and wicked. Humans are commanded to trust God, and believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Jesus was killed, and dying on a cross is much worse that stubbing your toe. So if we see his life in light of the devil’s quotation, it seems like the promise was not true. Consider the temptation in light of Moses, who struck the rock when he was supposed to speak to it, and you may see that Jesus’ life was guarded from any instance of disobedience to God’s words. Indeed, angels had their hands on Jesus even now it seems as the devil found himself outwitted on every front. We can learn from Jesus, that the one who trusts God, and let’s him rule over their life, rather than taking control of their own destiny will prevail. God will their father, and he will watch out for them, just as he was watching out for Jesus.

            It can be very difficult to discern when the devil tries to plant one word. Sometimes I see it working in the testimony of evil doers. They quote the Bible to justify their evil behavior or to make others doubt that God’s word is true. One really obvious case is to say that some Bible figures practiced Sodomy because it says somewhere that one fellow loved another, like the case of David and Johnathan. The devil says such things to fornicators in many places nowadays. Lost souls take the bait every time. They fall into presumption that that God’s word is relative to their society or their situation. They disregard the obvious words of God, to take control of their own destiny, and try the patience of God. Sadly, their decision is for destruction, rather than life. The devil uses God’s word to lead them into spiritual suicide. God’s patience will not last forever. He will send Jesus again and bring this world as we know it to an end. Let’s pray for deep and abiding trust that God is in charge. Let’s pray for ears that hear the voice of God above the temptation of the devil. Let’s pray to trust God always so we never find ourselves testing God when the devil twists the word to make our sin seem OK. Sometimes I think the Devil tempts me to put God to the test. Now and then, I hear Jesus’ word, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Go through yourself into the sea and it will obey you.” Then I want to see if I can through a mountain into the sea. Would that be testing God? Maybe it would be testing me because I have the feeling that the mountain will not move. My faith is that wavering. What did Jesus do?

             This passage recalls the devil’s temptations for Jesus when he was in the worst condition a human could be in. He tried to make Jesus doubt his identity and God’s love. The tried to get  Jesus to worship him rather than God. But Jesus prevailed and and the devil had to run away. He came back later, with other sayings and strange directions, but thanks to his wilderness training, Jesus never caved in. We are not so good. But we can thank Jesus for sharing his victory with us, and we can learn from him how to resist the devil when he tempt us with doubts and fears to make us disregard the word of God. I have noticed, that when such temptations come up, there really is a word of God that whispers to me. I try hard to listen to it. Honestly, there are times when I pretend I did not hear it, and there are times when I ignore it. This message reminded me of that I do not have to fall down. God will strengthen me and empower me when I diligently seek him and wholeheartedly trust his words. Thank God for showing us the great victory Jesus accomplished in all the temptations that we fall into. Thank God for showing us the way to trust, worship and honor God amid every temptation in Jesus’ example. I pray we may all have ears tuned to the word of God that speaks to us every time the devil offers evil instructions that only lead us astray.