I was reading this encounter Jesus had with satan, actually before his ministry proper, and I believe God gave me a couple of points to meditate on.
If anyone can expand that's great, even if anyone has a different take on things that's also great of course. I sincerely hope that it blesses you in some way though!
Mt 4:1-11
- Jesus is 'supposed' to be tempted by satan, he is led by God 'to be tempted'
- Jesus only says what is necessary, and always has something to say.
- Jesus orders satan away from him after the third temptation, implying that he could have done so from the begining, but because it was Gods will, he endured.
- The first temptation was of materialism, the second was of misusing gifts from God, the third was of usurping Gods authority
- The first two temptations have satan somehow trying to put doubt into Jesus' mind by questioning whether he really is the Son of God. Jesus is not even trying to argue this so satan gives up the tactic and seems to admit that he is the Son of God by asking Jesus to switch his allegiance (clearly how could Jesus switch his allegiance from God if he wasn't already the Son of God), showing that even as satan knew this all along, Jesus has openly put him to shame as the blatant liar he is.
- As soon as Jesus orders satan away, he goes away, and as soon as satan leaves, angels of the Lord minister to Jesus. I feel that God is trying to tell us something important here, we know that where there is God, satan cannot be, where there is light there is no darkness, and where darkness there can be no light. I am trying not to suggest that because Jesus was entertaining a conversation with the devil he was at all sinning, clearly not! And likewise, if we are 'tempted' like Jesus was, we are also not sinning; it is of course the 'giving in' to the temptation that is enmity from God. But I still feel there is something important to learn here from verse 11. This whole time was clearly an intense experience for our Blessed Lord Jesus, there is a definite similarity with this experience and the harsh time that Noah and his family must have had in the Ark for the same duration. Jesus 'endured' this time, just as we must endure any time in which we are tempted; but just as God sent his angels to minister to Jesus when he successfully endured satans temptations, we are likewise promised angels from God to minister onto us when we successfully endure satans temptations.
We can ask God for a hedge of fire to protect us from attacks, we can ask for Gods armour and shields for a defence from demons and the long tongues of our enemies. In fact, it is in this writers strong opinion that as children of God we must do so! But ultimately, sometimes we will have to endure temptation whilst we are still in the flesh, even the most Holy person will, just as Jesus did!
May Jesus, who even abides in you as you walk this life in the flesh, be your strength; may he help you to renew your minds as you are transformed more and more into his glorious image; and may you withstand the fiery arrows of the enemy with His two edged sword, in Jesus' mighty and everlasting name! Amen.
Posted - The first temptation was of materialism, the second was of misusing gifts from God, the third was of usurping Gods authority
Posted - The first two temptations have satan somehow trying to put doubt into Jesus' mind by questioning whether he really is the Son of God. Jesus is not even trying to argue this so satan gives up the tactic and seems to admit that he is the Son of God by asking Jesus to switch his allegiance (clearly how could Jesus switch his allegiance from God if he wasn't already the Son of God), showing that even as satan knew this all along, Jesus has openly put him to shame as the blatant liar he is.
*** Thank you so much Carl for this in-lightening post for it has shown a deeper truth of the temptations. I've known our Lord was tempted, however I never looked any deeper into it. This that you've shared, I believe can be beneficial to ones daily walk in this fallen and deceiving world we live in. When coming across those that try to cause or plant doubt of your standing in Christ Jesus...and those that try to sway one away from the Truth of the Gospel and who Jesus is...Bravo Sir!...Well done!!!! :thumbsup:
