The Bible never pictures Jesus as a plastic super hero. It says that our Savior was badgered by temptation just like the rest of us. He went toe to toe with Satan. Straight on.
Just before Jesus launched His public ministry of miracle working and preaching, the Spirit of God commanded Him to go into the desert for a period of intense testing. Jesus went without food for forty days and nights; fasting and praying only.
Jesus was hungry by the end of this time-----like anyone would be. This is when Satan pounced. He threw three temptations at Him; concrete opportunities to go against His Father's will. They weren't just passing thoughts but brutal attempts to get Him to do evil, each custom designed to drag Jesus into evil.
Each one to entice Jesus to get a good thing by doing a bad thing.
- satisfying His hunger without God's specific permission
- gaining followers by misusing His power
- seizing control of the world apart from winning salvation through the cross
Jesus wilderness testing not only illustrates how temptation targets us at times and targets us when we are most vulnerable, but it demonstrates how to fight back. Jesus didn't call on any resource not available to every believer. He fought Satan's lying enticements with specific truths from God's Word. With God's Word guarding His mind, heart and body; Jesus was invincible. He simply relied on God's ultra powerful Word.
I would like to say that I have defeated every temptation; that would be a bold faced lie. I have given in more times than I care to admit. However, being in the Word has helped me recognize the deceit of the evil one and to be able to overcome his rotten control of me at my weak points. I still need to get stronger in the Word, for I am powerless on my own. The more Word, the stronger the resistance.
If you are mired in sin, turn to the Word with all you possess.
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