Desert Temptations
Thought
I’d repost an oldie but a goodie. This is an entry I posted almost
exactly two years ago. Second part is tomorrow. Enjoy!
I’ve been reading about the testing of Jesus in the desert. It came
to me that Jesus was tempted with these things (see Matthew 4):
Comfort – Jesus could have turned anything into food or water.
He could have had any comfort He desired – it was all available to
Him. But, for some reason forgoing comfort to rely on God was more
important to Him.
Control – I envision Satan giving Jesus a wink, and with a smirk
saying, “Jump – come on – You know nothing will happen. The angels will
save you.” In essence, if you do this, God will do this – an expected
outcome from a controlled input.
Power – Jesus could have had all the power of the world, except
power over Satan. The only way Jesus would have power over Satan is if
He willingly sacrificed His life.
The Response
Jesus responds with God’s heart on the subject (from the NKJV):
Comfort – Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Control – You shall not tempt the LORD your God.
Power – You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.
Jesus rebuked every temptation with His trust in His Father.
Once Jesus was tempted, tested, and past the test – He was then
deemed, “PREPARED” to begin His ministry. Jesus ran into these same
temptations during His three year ministry and was prepared to overcome
them.
Jesus obviously didn’t live comfortably. Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
Jesus didn’t have to go to the cross. He could have prayed for His
own will to be done in the Garden of Gethsemane. Really, Jesus didn’t
have to even stay up on the cross. He could have controlled the outcome
anyway He wanted.
Many, many times Jesus was tempted with power, success, and prestige.
But over and over again, Jesus chose to serve only God. He is God yet
He chose to relinquish His Kingdom, be born in a barn, and serve all
mankind.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
