"Immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts." – Mark 1:12
When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God.
He did not invite temptation as we often do.
He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and work, and by fasting and prayer prepare for the work of saving us!
He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel. But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness, and he thought this the best time to approach Him.
Mighty issues for the world were at stake in the conflict between the Prince of light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness.
After tempting Adam and Eve to sin, Satan claimed the earth as his, and styled himself the prince of this world.
He declared that men had chosen him as their sovereign. Through his control of men, he held dominion over the world.
Jesus Christ came to disprove Satan's claim.
Adam’s rule was as a vice-generate. The real kingdom belonged to God – Adam’s defeat did not take power from the Lord
Satan made that claim. Jesus came to take back what was lost.
He would show that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race, and that his claim to the world was false.
Jesus came to show that all who desired deliverance from the enemies power could be set free.
The dominion that Adam had lost through sin would be recovered.
From the time when He was a babe in Bethlehem, the Savior was continually assailed by the evil one.
The image of God was manifest in Christ, and in the councils of Satan it was determined that He should be overcome.
No human being had come into the world and escaped the power of the deceiver.
The forces of the confederacy of evil were set upon His track to engage in warfare against Him, and if possible to prevail over Him.
Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels.
He must personally conduct the warfare against the Son of God.
Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.
Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest.
But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated.
Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan.
The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand.
They were urged upon Him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours.
With the terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him, Christ withstood the test upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon that love of display which leads to presumption.
These were the three temptations that overcame Adam and Eve, and that so readily overcome us.
In essence they were the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Satan had pointed to Adam's sin as proof that God's law was unjust, and could not be obeyed. In our humanity, Christ was to redeem Adam's failure.
But when Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him.
He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body.
It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan.
For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity.
Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation.
With Christ, as with the holy pair in Eden, appetite was the ground of the first great temptation.
Just where the ruin began, the work of our redemption must begin.
As by the indulgence of appetite Adam fell, so by the denial of appetite Christ must overcome. "
The first temptation the devil threw at the Lord was appetite – the lust of the flesh.
It means much more than food alone, or being a vegetarian or vegan – Eve was not even hungry inspiration tells us when she took from the tree and gave to Adam.
Appetite does cover gluttony, and food cravings, but Adam and Eve were promised power, and godlikeness if they ate and disobeyed God!
The appetite covered all the lusts of the flesh – including the desire to have that why Jesus man does not live by bread alone – there’s much more to life than appetite and possessions!
There’s a relationship with God that matters most of all!
There’s peace in the heart! There’s a heaven to gain and a hell to shun!
Man does not live by bread alone – but by what comes from the mouth of God!
Satan claimed to have a commission from God to declare that Christ's fast was at an end.
“As God had sent an angel to stay the hand of Abraham from offering Isaac, so, satisfied with Christ's willingness to enter the bloodstained path, the Father had sent an angel to deliver Him; this was the message brought to Jesus.” – DA, p. 118
The Saviour was faint from hunger, He was craving for food, when Satan came suddenly upon Him.
Pointing to the stones which strewed the desert, and which had the appearance of loaves, the tempter said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."
Though he appears as an angel of light, these first words betray his character.
"If Thou be the Son of God."
Here is the insinuation of distrust.
Should Jesus do what Satan suggests, it would be an acceptance of the doubt.
The tempter plans to overthrow Christ by the same means that were so successful with the human race in the beginning.
Satan insinuates that God never meant His Son to be in such a state as this. "If Thou be the Son of God," show Thy power. Command that this stone be made bread.
It was Satan's purpose to cause Him to doubt that word. If Christ's confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that the victory in the whole controversy would be his.
He hoped that under the force of despondency and extreme hunger, Christ would lose faith in His Father, and work a miracle in His own behalf.
Had He done this, the plan of salvation would have been broken.
When Satan and the Son of God first met in conflict, Christ was the commander of the heavenly hosts; and Satan, the leader of revolt in heaven, was cast out.
Now their condition is apparently reversed, and Satan makes the most of his supposed advantage.
It is interesting to note what Lucifer told Jesus in the desert.
The inspired pen gives us this information.
Satan said, “One of the most powerful of the angels, he says, has been banished from heaven. The appearance of Jesus indicates that He is that fallen angel, forsaken by God, and deserted by man. A divine being would be able to sustain his claim by working a miracle; "if Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." Such an act of creative power, urges the tempter, would be conclusive evidence of divinity. It would bring the controversy to an end..” DA, p. 119.
But the Son of God was not to prove His divinity to Satan, or to explain the reason of His humiliation.
By conceding to the demands of the rebel, nothing for the good of man or the glory of God would be gained.
Neither here nor at any subsequent time in His earthly life did He work a miracle in His own behalf.
His wonderful works were all for the good of others.
Jesus had heard His Father’s voice at His baptism.
He knew His Father, and He rested in His Father's love.
He would not parley with temptation.
Brothers and sisters, we must know God personally, and rest in His love at all time!
God is good all the time! All the time God is good.
Never allow the tempter to tell you otherwise or lead you to question God’s love and care for you!
Jesus met Satan with the words of Scripture. "It is written," He said.
In every temptation the weapon of His warfare was the word of God.
Satan approached Jesus at his weakest period of His life!
Satan takes advantage of the weakness of humanity.
Whenever one is encompassed with clouds, perplexed by circumstances, or afflicted by poverty or distress, Satan is at hand to tempt and annoy.
He attacks our weak points of character.
He seeks to shake our confidence in God, who suffers such a condition of things to exist.
We are tempted to distrust God, to question His love.
Often the tempter comes to us as he came to Christ, arraying before us our weakness and infirmities.
He hopes to discourage the soul, and to break our hold on God.
Then he is sure of his prey.
If we would meet him as Jesus did with the Word of God – the sword of the spirit, we should escape many a defeat.
When the devil tells you what a great sinner you are, say, “Thanks for reminding me, I must now go to the cross to be forgiven and cleansed!”
Get out your Bible and send the devil fleeing when he sees the sharp two-edged sword!
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises.
Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support.
Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions.
But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33.
When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives.
Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise?
We are told this: “In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell. It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death. See Rev. 13:11-17.
But to the obedient is given the promise, "He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Isa. 33:16.
Christ overcame in the conflict with Satan by the Word of God, and so can we!
Unto us are given "exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.
When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the word.
All its strength is yours. "Thy word," says the psalmist, "have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
"By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." Ps. 119:11; 17:4.
Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, Lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone."
Satan made it evident that he is acquainted with the Scriptures, and understands the importance of the sacred words, and he twisted the Bible text.
The tempter thought to take advantage of Christ's humanity, and urge Him to presumption.
We must never presume on God or second guess His mighty will!
The Lord’s servant tells us that “while Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin.” DA, p. 125
The deceiver said to Jesus, "Cast Thyself down,"
Satan could not force Jesus to cast Himself down.
Unless Christ should consent to temptation, He could not be overcome.
Not all the power of earth or hell could force Him in the slightest degree to depart from the will of His Father.
“The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us. And every failure or defeat on our part gives occasion for him to reproach Christ.” – DA, p. 125.
When Satan quoted the promise, "He shall give His angels charge over Thee," he omitted the words, "to keep Thee in all Thy ways;" that is, in all the ways of God's choosing.
God’s ways are not for you to jump off a cliff or a bridge or to put the Lord to the test!
Jesus refused to go outside the path of obedience.
While trusting His Father, Jesus – whose Hebrew name is Yahshua which means “Yahweh’s salvation” would not place Himself in a position that would necessitate forcing His Father to save Him from death.
He would not force Providence to come to His rescue, and thus fail of giving man an example of trust and submission.
Jesus declared to Satan, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." You should not put God to a test!”
God had already testified that Jesus was His Son; and now to ask for proof that He was the Son of God would be putting God's word to the test,--tempting Him.
We can trust God’s Word – we need no more proof than what God said!
Do we need more proof than Calvary that our Father and His Son love us?
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.
But faith is in not the same as presumption.
Presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith.
Faith would have led Adam and Eve to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands.
Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin.
There are many today who presume that God loves them and will ignore their habitual sin and disobedience to His word! They are in for a surprise!
God forgives sin, but He never condones it!
Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.
A thoughtful pause and a stop for prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many a defeat.
Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation.
Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us.
But it was the Spirit's leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan!
When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good.
"God is faithful, who will not suffer 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."
Jesus was victor in the second temptation, and now Satan manifests himself in his true character.
But he does not appear as a hideous monster, with cloven feet and bat's wings.
He is a mighty angel, though fallen and claims to be the leader of rebellion and the god of this world.
Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him.
Satan somehow projected the glories of the earth in a moment of time to the Savior!
The sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and fruit-laden vineyards.
Inspiration tells us this about this Satanic vision the devil gave to Jesus, “The traces of evil were hidden.” DA, p. 126.
How like the devil! He paints a nice picture of sin – tries to make it look good – look like fun, but he hides the evil!
He gets young people to use illegal drugs and to smoke suggesting that they will be enlightened and among the cool and wise.
But he hides the fact that there health will be destroyed, that many of them will die of disease and accidents, and be involved in crime, debauchery, and early death!
He appeals to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and paints enticing pictures and movies like the one he showed Jesus in a moment of time!
But Beelzebub – the Lord of the flys hides the fact that the one who commits fornication or adultery will not inherit the kingdom of God, and also makes Christ a fornicator and brings the holy Savior who died for them to an open shame Hebrews says!
What Beelzebub the Lord of the flys offers is spiritual dung that flies gather round!
Jesus offers nobility of character – a high calling – a place in the heavenly courts – companionship with the majesty of heaven!
Satan only offers food for those foolish to listen to him. What he offers is for the flies!
Jesus was not fooled or enticed by anything that Satan could show Him.
His eye was on doing His Father’s will!
Then the tempter's voice was heard: "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine."
The devil always seeks worship, someone to bow down to him and to do His will!
That’s why he goes all out to lead men and women and boys and girls to disobey God’s revealed will and do what he wants!
That’s why he has tried to do away with the true day of worship – the seventh-day Sabbath and replace it with a day of his creating so that those who honor that day instead of Gods will honor him!
Satan declared to Christ,
“The kingdom and glory of the world are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it” – worship me and I will give them to you!
Christ declared to the tempter, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."
To men he offers the kingdom of this world on condition that they will acknowledge his supremacy.
He requires that they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness.
Divinity flashed through suffering humanity.
Satan had no power to resist the command to get thee hence!
Writhing with humiliation and rage, he was forced to withdraw from the presence of the world's Redeemer.
Christ's victory was as complete as had been the failure of Adam.
So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us.
Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:7, 8.
We cannot save ourselves from the tempter's power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand in our own strength, we shall become a prey to his devices;
When I was a new Christian I said proud and foolish things like “I wish the devil could be in a ring with me one of one – I’d like to beat the hades out of him!”
How foolish, we are a joke to the devil when we try to fight him with our strength!
But at the sound of prayer –he trembles!
Why because we’re calling for Yahshua – Yahweh’s Son and the devils and Lucifer tremble.
When the Savior was on the earth, and the devils saw Him they said, “Has thou come to destroy us before the time?”
The Holy Bible says: "the name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and are safe." Prov. 18:10.
Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.
Open your Bibles to Luke 10:18-20 “And he
said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold,
I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are
subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in
heaven.”
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is
in you is greater than the one who is in the world
After the foe had departed, Jesus fell exhausted to the earth, with the pallor of death upon His face.
The angels of heaven had watched the conflict, beholding their loved Commander as He passed through inexpressible suffering to make a way of escape for us.
The angels now ministered to the Son of God as He lay like one dying.
He was strengthened with food, comforted with the message of His Father's love and the assurance that all heaven triumphed in His victory.
Jesus wants to save you and I by any means necessary!
Jesus overcame by denying self, by keeping in close communications with His Father in prayer, by using the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God to fight the enemy.
He that cometh to Me …
There’s a call today to a deeper more loving walk with the Master – a deeper commitment
Where there’s the will – He provides the way!