The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)
Matthew 4:1-11 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”
Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.”
Why would God allow the Holy Spirit to lead Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted at the beginning of his ministry? The British have a saying, “Begin as you mean to go on.” The way you start a project or a ministry determines the fashion in which you will proceed. Beginnings are foundational and must be handled carefully and with a great deal of prayer.
Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. While he would have to drink water, he might have eaten very little. Notice that the Scripture does not say that Jesus was thirsty. Perhaps Jesus copied his cousin John the Baptist and ate a few carob pods; however, this would scarcely have been sufficient to assuage hunger completely.
Why was it necessary for Jesus to fast before he was tempted? By fasting, Jesus was purifying himself and demonstrating reliance on God his Heavenly Father. Such preparation was absolutely necessary, for Satan was about to make Jesus offers he shouldn’t be able to refuse.
The first temptation was very practical: Satan tried to tempt Jesus to be his own amateur providence and turn stones into bread. Jesus had the perfect reply. “But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Why did Jesus need to settle this point? After earning a living for years as a carpenter, Jesus was about to embark on a ministry that would last for an unknown period. How was Jesus to live? How would Jesus even get food to eat? How would Jesus care for those following him? Jesus had to affirm to Satan that he was going to rely on God and not on his own efforts.
The second temptation also was very practical. Satan wanted Jesus to test God to see if God would really protect him. “Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Jesus already knew that sooner or later; he must die for the sins of the world. Satan was trying to entice Jesus into forcing God to deliver him from physical danger. Had Jesus thrown himself off the temple, God the Fathe might have saved him, but he would still have failed the test because he would have failed to honor God and His perfect will.
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Here Satan was offering Jesus a deadly shortcut-complete earthly power and success without suffering. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan had ruled over earth, so he was making a genuine offer. All Jesus had to do was to give in to Satan and he could have all of earth; however, Satan would have all of Jesus. But Jesus had already spent his life worshiping God the Father. Why should Jesus worship his Heavenly Father’s arch-enemy? Everything in Jesus, tired and weak as he was, rebelled against this blasphemous idea! Here Jesus was telling Satan, “I don’t care if I die, I will never worship you!”
“Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.” The angels didn’t turn up until Satan had been defeated and had left. Those angels might have been standing in readiness, begging God to allow them to swoop in and distract Satan, only for God the Father to say, “No. You must allow Jesus to go through all of this on his own.”
What lessons for ministry can we learn from the story of Jesus’ temptations?
- First, realize that as long as you are a believer, whatever God calls you to do is ministry. One missionary friend who returned to America from Ghana began working at Houston Hobby Airport and found himself working along many Vietnamese immigrants. Our friend learned the Vietnamese language to be able to witness to his coworkers.
- Prepare spiritually. Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. While God might not call you to do something like that, you must pray and ask God for guidance before embarking on a new ministry. Once you have entered a new situation, you must pray even harder; however, these prayers can be “on the go” prayers, not requiring you kneel someplace. Kneeling is great and is very important, but you might not always be able to do so.
- Don’t be your own amateur providence but trust God. Don’t mishandle any power that God gives you. Notice this does not mean that you sit down, hoping that bread will fall from heaven. In 1990-1992 we lived in the Memphis area while preparing to return to Ghana to serve in a new location. Both my husband and I worked in minor emergency clinics and I worked in hospital ER’s. When we returned to America in 1996 so I could earn my Master’s degree in public health, my husband worked a variety of jobs to support us. My schooling was paid for partially by scholarships and partially by donations.
- Don’t test God’s protection. Yes, God may lead you into dangerous situations, but don’t court danger simply to see if God will deliver you. I’ve done some bone-headed things in my life and God has had to deliver me from my stupidity; however, I didn’t start out by intending to test God’s ability to save me.
- Sometimes opportunities may open that appear to offer “all the kingdoms of the world.” Watch out! Many years ago, I interviewed for a pediatric surgery position on a friend’s recommendation. The location was great and the pay and other aspects appeared highly attractive. But as we returned to New York City, where we were then living, God warned both my husband and me that this was a “velvet-lined trap.” Within a few months, my friend who had recommended the interview left his position in that practice because the senior partner wanted to use him as glorified slave labor. Had I accepted that position, I too could have wound up in trouble.
When you pray, stay humble, keep working, and allow God to guide you, you will wind up in the place of God’s choosing, the very best place for you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are confused and need guidance. We want to serve You but are not sure how or where. Lord, help us to pray and listen for Your still small voice, for You will surely guide us when we ask. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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