Creation to Christ: Reading 38 – September 14, 2016 – Luke 4:1-15, The Rematch

Today’s Readings

Context 

It was time for the rematch.

In the Garden, the serpent appeared and tempted Adam and Eve to see if they would follow God or if they would go their own way. They failed, chose sin, and plunged the race into darkness. Now, having been baptized, Jesus was ready to face the enemy in round 2 of this cosmic conflict. In 1 John 2, John speaks of the "lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life." Three temptations for us - lust, greed, and pride. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve saw that the tree was "good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom." Lust, greed, pride.

Now, after 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and praying, Jesus faced temptation. He was tempted to use his power selfishly to provide food (lust). He was shown the world and told it could all be his (greed) if only he bowed to Satan (greed). He was told to make a display of his greatness that would draw angels and show everyone how wonderful he is (pride).

Three temptations, just like the first time, except this time there was one huge difference - Jesus stood strong in God's power and the power of the word and resisted the devil. 

Devotional - Tested and Tried...and Victorious

People say a lot of foolish things, especially about sin. Pastors and church leaders who fall into sin sometimes say that their moral and spiritual failure has actually made them better as spiritual leaders. That is ridiculous and unbiblical.

When infomercials first hit it big, there was one lady selling a program offering help with relationships and marriage. She claimed she could help us build better homes, better families, stronger, longer-lasting marriages. Then the truth came out - she had been married five times. She claimed it was these failures that made her so wise. Baloney!

I don't want a failure teaching me, but a success. You don't go to a smoker to learn how to quit. You don't ask a 400-pound person how to lose weight. Jesus is a great Savior and a great Lord, not because he was a failure but because when tempted he stood strong. When Satan came he sent him packing with the word and the power of the Spirit.

Too often, what we want is someone to sympathize with our failings. "There, there, it's okay. We all fail." Jesus is loving, sympathetic, kind, and compassionate. Yes. But he can go one step further. He beat sin. He defeated it when tempted and he defeated it ultimately and eternally at the cross! He doesn't just pat you on the back about your failures, he transforms you to walk in victory.

Whatever you have been, in Christ you are destined for better. Because he succeeded where humanity failed, he can be our Wonderful Counselor. He can empower us to break free from the grip of sin and live in his righteousness. 

It was because Jesus was tested and tried in the desert that he was ready to walk in power. Luke 4:14 tells us that Jesus headed into the area of Galilee to begin his public ministry, full of the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity.

That is good news for us. Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit - the same Spirit who dwells in every believer. Jesus did not simply rely on his own divine nature to accomplish great things for God, but on the fullness of the Spirit who was working through him 

I so long for the fullness of the Spirit, the power working through me in the lives of others, to experience the power of the one who worked through Jesus himself. 

But it is important to note that verse 14 follows the 40 days, described in verse 1-13, in which he passed through the fires of temptation. It was only after the crucible of trial that he went out in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 

After 40 days of fasting, he was hungry and Satan tempted him to use his power for himself, to turn stones to bread for his own food. He reminded Satan that it was not bread alone that fed the human soul, that the Word of God is our true bread. 

He took Jesus to a high place and showed him the kingdoms of the world. All Jesus had to do was bow down to Satan and he would be given all these kingdoms. Jesus refused to sell his soul and reminded Satan that we must worship God alone. 

Finally, Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple (likely the high corner pictured here at the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount). He tempted him to display his own glory selfishly, to cast himself off the high place with the knowledge that angels would stop his fall.  

The Pinnacle of the Temple

Jesus refused to test God and Satan fled in defeat. He had tempted Adam and Eve to great effect but now his wiles failed and Jesus stood in victory. 

And after that, he went in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. 

Here's my problem: I want the glory of the Spirit's fullness without the crucible of trial, hardship, and rejection. I want the power with the pain, the purity without the process of purification. It just doesn't happen that way. But seldom do we experience the glory of verse 14 without passing through the crucible of verses 1-13. 

Father, purify my heart. May I draw near to you, resist the devil, and walk in the power of your Spirit. 

Think and Pray

Have you "made peace" with your sin? Remember that Jesus Christ came and died to destroy it!

Consider how these sins are tempting you now:

• The lust of the flesh - fulfilling the body's desires in ungodly ways. 
• The lust of the eyes - living for the things of this world. 
• The pride of life - living for myself. 

Remember that in Christ, we have victory over these temptations!