Table of Contents
Jesus our Example
We may know that all the temptations we face Jesus faced also: Heb 4:15-16 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”Jesus is our high priest. He knows what we are going through and He cares deeply. After His baptism He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Question: when Jesus first saw the devil, did He know who it was? Did he wear red leotards, have a pitchfork in his hand and a name tag saying Satan? Satan can appear as an angel of light 2Cor 11:14. So how did Jesus know this was Satan? When he opened his mouth it became clear. Mat 4:3-4 “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” When we memorize the words that proceed from the mouth of God, the words of the Bible, then we always have them with us. They can help us to also resist temptation when the devil whispers in our ears. Psa 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”God will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask Him. He will give us strength to resist temptation. Christ’s temptations where much stronger than what we must face. He was tempted to make stones into bread. This would not be a temptation for me because I don’t have this power. Jesus, when He walked this earth was fully God and fully man. If He said the word the stones would have been turned into bread but if He had done this there would have been no hope for humanity. He could not make use of His divinity to make things easier for Himself, or else He could not have been our example and He could not have borne our sins.
Jesus was Tempted as We are
Question: why did Jesus not send the devil away right away, but allowed Himself to be tempted three times? Is it possible there is a lesson to be learned here? I think many have a hard time understanding how Jesus could have been tempted in all points as we are. He did not have internet pornography always accessible. He was not tempted to have an abortion, since He is not a woman. How do we understand this? I believe the answer is in 1Jn 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Please consider carefully verse 16. It says that all that is in the world, all that is contrary to God, in other words, all temptations, fall into three categories; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Times may change, cultures may differ, and technology may advance, but the essence of the human experience remains the same. Ecc 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” People are different, yet we are the same. People have different strengths and weaknesses, yet we all have the same basic challenges. Pro 27:19 “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.”
Good News
Jesus conquered all these categories of temptations, as our example, that we might walk in his footsteps. 1Pe 2:21-24 “ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”God wants us to be victorious. He will work through us if we will let Him. But what if we fall. If we are walking with Christ, if we fall He will raise us up again. Pro 24:16 “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:”. This should be encouraging to us. We might get excited about something on Netflix, about good food, a new house or car, a vacation to the Bahamas. We should be excited that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. 1 Jn 1:9 I have memorized this verse. Every day when I pray I recite this verse and claim this promise. This is a great gift. Let us not waste it.
