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“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” – Jesus speaking in Matthew 3:8

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” – Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:17-18

Take a trip with me to the Judean wilderness. Can you picture it? Can you feel the heat of the desert? Can you see the barrenness of the land? This is not a place where people would gravitate to. It is not a location where one expects to go and find fellowship with others. It’s a wasteland, not a vacation spot. Yet this is exactly where Jesus heads off to following his baptism.

Why is he there? It appears from the scriptures that Jesus has an upcoming appointment in this particular location with the devil himself. And this appointment isn’t coming when Jesus’ belly is full or his thirst quenched. No. This appointment arrives when Jesus, who is fully man at this time, is physically compromised. Satan has waited for this moment. The stage is set for a battle. It will not be hand-to-hand combat, but a spiritual war between the prince of darkness and the Prince of Peace – the Son of the Most High God.

Jesus has been without food for forty days now. He’s been sleeping on dry earth, hardened by the Middle Eastern sun.

As if on cue, in comes the devil. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Bread. Something to end the constant rumble and ache within Jesus’ stomach. If I am the “Son of God?” Of course, I am the Son of God. Jesus knew who he was. Make no mistake. He knew! But this interaction was such a great opportunity for him to prove it. That’s all the devil was asking for, right? Satan is questioning (or presenting like he is) Jesus’ identity and then baiting him to focus on “self” and meeting his own needs – like hunger. The temptation isn’t too hard for Jesus. Let’s be real, soon Jesus will be turning water into wine, healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. This isn’t too hard. That’s not the point. Jesus knows this. He is aware of what is going on and the meaning behind it. And so Jesus tells him, “No.” He doesn’t ask clarifying questions. He doesn’t try to negotiate or compromise. He isn’t playing with the devil. Instead, he follows up with truth. “The scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” I choose God. His unchanging truth over my temporal need. God will provide.

So the devil up’s his game. Jesus is going to give me scriptures? I know the scriptures, too. So the deceiver takes Jesus to the Holy City of Jerusalem. God’s city. The place where God, Himself, has told his people He will reside with them. The devil takes Jesus to the highest point of the Temple of God and says, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.'” Whew! Notice here in the second recorded temptation that now Satan is trying to get Jesus in a different way. While he is still trying to address or bait Jesus’ identity, he no longer has him in a place of solitude. Jerusalem is crowded. Imagine if someone were to throw themselves down from the highest part of the Temple onto the stones below – without sustaining any injury – all the while claiming to be the Son of God? It could be quite convincing to those witnesses, right? Satan is tempting Jesus with his identity as the Son of God, his immortality, and a quick ticket to fame – all whilst quoting scripture. Scriptures, by the way, that Jesus also recognizes and knows.

Jesus does not blindly submit to scriptures that are being used out of context. He will not justify going against God’s direction and leading. Even now, he knows that this is not the way God plans to expose him as the Son of God. While this would certainly be a quicker and easier way to be identified for who he is, it would not accomplish his purpose for coming. Jesus responds, “The Scriptures also say, “You must not test the LORD your God.”

The devil sees another opportunity before him. If Jesus is so secure with knowing who he is – God’s son, perhaps Jesus will not be content with that role. Remember, the devil himself wasn’t content with his role in the Kingdom of Heaven either. He didn’t want to serve God. He wanted to be God. He wanted God’s power. He wanted God’s dominion. Something he could never earn nor achieve. This desire is sin. And sin cannot be with God. Hence, his removal from Heaven. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus will want what he himself (and so many humans as well) desired. Power. Position. Wealth. The kingdom. “I will give it all to you,” he says, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” No twisting of scriptures. No mincing of words. Only the offer of the keys to all that Earth can offer. The cost? Just kneel down and worship me… It’s not that big of an ask, is it?

Before moving on, I want to pause for just a minute and do some self-reflecting. I want to think about myself, my family, my friends, my church, my community, my state, my nation, and the world… Are we willing to kneel down and worship anything or anyone that is not God? Do we desire the promise of power, wealth, and position, more than we desire the promises and gifts of life lived in submission to The Holy One? Are we better capable of meeting our needs than He? Do we have the intelligence to orchestrate our own lives as well as to orchestrate all of creation? Could our lust for the best this world has to offer us for our limited time here on Earth ever compare with what God promises for an eternity in Heaven spent with Him?

This is a trap. Another temptation wrapped in deception. Jesus, hearing the devil’s third offer, refuses to entertain the deceiver anymore. He says, “Get out of here, Satan. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.”

It is written. The Scriptures say. Friend, do you believe that the Scriptures are reliable? Do you believe that God’s written Word holds true? You should. Jesus did. By the way, as a side note, Jesus is not quoting out of the New Testament here. That wasn’t written. He knew the Word of God. He studied it. He stood on it. He wielded it against the most awful attacks of the devil and from man. God’s Word stands. God’s Word is true. We are foolish to take it lightly. We are foolish to invest in self, or power, or wealth, or possessions, or any other thing that contradicts or distracts us from the Creator Himself.

Let Jesus be our model. Let’s strive to live for him and allow him to work through us. God will provide for all our needs. God will provide, through his Word, a way out of any temptation. We’ve got to keep our eyes and ears, hearts and minds where they were always intended to be – focused on God. God alone.

Blessings!

Note: The scriptures used/quoted regarding the interactions of the temptations of Jesus are found in Matthew chapter 4.