The Fight of Temptation
Before Jesus began his ministry, he first withstood temptation. Temptation creeps into each of our lives. It whispers and draws our attention. It promises and lies with just the right words to captivate. We will battle temptations our entire lives. What we are tempted with will change as we grow, but the battle will be a constant reoccurrence. Temptation has a place in the life of a Christian. It had a place in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus. Temptation is not a sin. It invites us to partake in sin, but the act of temptation is common to all of us. In fact, I would go so far as to say that temptation fills a necessary part of our lives. Without temptation, there can be no real obedience or even faith. How would we know what we believe if that belief were not challenged? What would be the cost of faith if no price was ever required?
James saw temptation and trials as a necessity. In his letter, he wrote, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) Jesus withstood his temptations. Our reading today shows us how he fought back and how he stayed strong in the face of very powerful temptations. We will also see how his obedience to God led to his victory over Satan.
Satan presents temptation with a very effective formula. He has not changed his tactics since the Garden of Eden simply because they are effective. The first temptation we read of tempts Jesus with basic need. Jesus was hungry. We are told his temptation did not come until forty days of fasting had passed. The first temptation: bread. Satan knows how we were created. There are basic necessities and desires of every human being. We need food and drink. We need relationships. We need to feel loved and included. These areas of temptation will always be Satan’s most effective. Like Jesus, we need to fight those temptations with the truth of God’s word.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
The second temptation Jesus withstood was the temptation of power. I wonder if this temptation was a bit harder for Christ. Afterall, he denied himself the power he truly possessed but would have still remembered it, making his humanity all the more difficult. Perhaps this temptation wasn’t hard at all. Maybe it made Jesus laugh because he knew true power that Satan could only play at understanding. What I love about this temptation is how utterly it failed. Satan tempted Jesus saying, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.” (verse 6) At the end of Christ’s time on earth, as he was about to ascend into Heaven, he declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) Satan promised what he did not have the power to give. Jesus would only receive this power because he obeyed the Heavenly Father. Power is truly only God’s to give. As Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…”
Lastly, Satan tempted Jesus with protection and freedom from pain. This temptation was especially devious, and one we need to be on particular guard against. This temptation was not merely flowery words to entice or promise an absence of suffering. For this temptation, as with the temptation of Eve in the Garden, Satan twisted and attempted to make Jesus doubt the very word of God. If we do not know the context of scripture, we can be so easily fooled by master manipulators. If we do not explore the Word of God for ourselves, we may be convinced it says something contradictory to what God intends.
We will all be tempted. What we do with those temptations matters. Will you entertain them? Will you allow your thoughts to play with the idea and plant seeds of sin in your heart? Will you wander off the path of God because you were enticed? Will you resist in your strength which quickly fades and weakens, or will you stand in the strength of God? Will you, as Jesus did, lean on scriptures to fight the lies of the Devil? How we fight the Evil One matters. Understanding that Satan twists truth with lies helps us sift through what we hear and what we think. Our weapon is scripture. Learn to wield it. Practice. Burry God’s Word in your heart so that in those weak moments when temptation is so very strong, your protection is sharp and ready at hand.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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