The Baptism and Temptation of Christ

Let’s share together some lessons from God’s word. 

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him.  But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?”  But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.  After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him,  and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17 NASB)[1] 

Note that when Jesus was baptized, it was to fulfill all righteousness - not just for a ceremonial purification.  It is because Jesus was perfectly righteous that He was the unblemished Lamb needed to pay the price for our sins.  The use of capitalization by the translators to identify our Lord shows that it was their judgement that John the Baptist saw the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus.  John heard and understood the voice of God. 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.  And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” 

Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,  and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: 

‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS ORDERS CONCERNING YOU’; 

and 

‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP, SO THAT YOU DO NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” 

Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;  and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”  

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” 

Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NASB)[2] 

Jesus was tempted as we are, but He did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15) He was without food for 40 days and nights.  That He was hungry, is an understatement.  His human body must have also been weakened physically.  Yet, Jesus said that the works He did were the works of His Father. (John 10:32,14:10)  Tempted as He must have been to turn stones into bread, He refused to perform miracles at the command of Satan. 

The devil used scripture to try to deceive when he told Jesus to cast Himself from the pinnacle of the temple.  You can be certain that Satan knows the scriptures, and that he still tries to twist them to cause believers to sin.  That is why we must study the whole wisdom of God and submit to the counsel of the Holy Spirit. 

Satan is a liar. (John 8:44)  He intended to take the kingdoms of the world away, not to give them to Jesus.  If the Son of God had worshiped Satan, He would have lost His birthright to rule the kingdoms of the world with an iron scepter as Messiah. He also would have sinned, and then He could not have been our Savior.    However, He rebuked Satan and sent him away, and God sent angels to care for Jesus. 

There is one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Because He was faithful to the end and died for us, we can have eternal life.  All glory and honor be to God whose love knows no bounds.

 

 

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nasb_/matthew/3.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/nasb_/matthew/4.htm