In answering the question as to whether Jesus was truly tempted in the wilderness as we are, I recently heard a Pastor reply: “Temptation is temptation.” In other words, there must be an appealing to some desire within us, some allurement, that draws us to reach out for the thing being offered. If not, then temptation has not occurred.
In the passage that we considered in Matthew, it clearly states, “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matt. 4:1) The Gospel of Mark states it even more emphatically when it says that Jesus was driven by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. (Mk. 1:12) That speaks of the control of the Holy Spirit that Jesus came under at his baptism. Why does God allows us to be tempted? The devil wants us to fall. God wants to prove to us that by trusting in the power of His Spirit, we can stand and be victorious. Like iron in the fire, the testing only tempers the steel.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” That ought to forever answer the question, “Does Jesus truly understand what I’m going through when tempted?”
Not only does Jesus know what temptation is like, but he has experienced the full force of the devil’s power in a way that we never have or could. For us, the power of temptation tends to increase until we can no longer resist whereas in Jesus’ case, he endured temptation far beyond the point where we would have long ago given in to it.
So now we ask the question, “What desires could the devil have appealed to in Jesus to lure him into sin?” We were born with a sinful nature and possess many fleshly desires that the enemy can address, but with Jesus it was not so. He was born absolutely sinless with a holy nature, pure and spotless. However, the devil knows our weaknesses and doesn’t waste his efforts where there is no interest. There were legitimate desires in Jesus to which Satan directed his attacks. After fasting for forty days Jesus desired to satisfy his natural hunger as soon as possible. “Turn these stones into bread!” He wanted the people to recognize him as the Christ who would “suddenly come to his temple.” (Malachi 3:1) From the pinnacle of the Temple the devil challenged him to make a dramatic entrance and “Cast thyself down!” As later seen in Gethsemane, Jesus naturally would have wanted to avoid the suffering and untold agony connected with going to the cross. “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me!” Two thousand years later the devil is still up to his old tricks.
First John 2:16 defines the areas in which the devil tries to tempt us: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Since the Garden of Eden his tactics haven’t changed.
He’s still trying to get us to put our natural wants before our spiritual needs. Whereas Jesus taught us to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (would be added unto us).” (Matt. 6:33) He (Satan) appeals to our pride and desire that drives us to seek recognition and the honor and praise of man. While Jesus said we are to “seek the honor that comes from God only.” (John 5:44) We are tempted to compromise our integrity in our service to God in order to avoid suffering and conflict. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) As always, being led by the Spirit and walking in obedience is God’s way of meeting the legitimate desires He has placed in our hearts, not by yielding to the devil’s suggestions.
I knew of a young Bible School student who confided in one of his teachers of his struggle with a certain temptation in his life. “I try to resist it with all my strength, but it always gets the best of me in the end.” The teacher wisely pointed out the problem, (i.e. - I resist with all my strength). “The next time temptation comes, don’t try to resist it by yourself but rather turn your attention to Jesus within you. Worship Him… sing and praise, until He manifests Himself and overcomes that temptation in you.”
Remember, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)
Jesus is that way of escape. We in ourselves, may not be a match for the devil but the devil is never a match for Him!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for showing us that You understand us completely, and for making a way for us to overcome temptation by yielding to Your Holy Spirit within us. You are in charge - have Your way in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
