One on one....a fight to the finish

Very early in the gospel narratives, we are told of the baptism of Jesus.  His baptism was different in respect of purpose, in that others being baptized at that time were accompanying it with a confession of sin. That wasn't the case with Jesus.  He was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness."   With miraculous things happening, Jesus' baptism was attested by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, resting on him. Couple that with the voice of God from heaven concerning his "beloved" Son, and we have heaven's leading toward the starting of Jesus' earthly ministry. 

The baptism event was followed by a period known to us as "the temptations" of Jesus.  Does it seem strange immediately after his stamp of approval from heaven, that Jesus is sent off to be confronted by Satan?   However we feel about the sequence of things, we do know Jesus was in this period of temptation for forty days.  Let's look at the three temptations mentioned in Matthew.  He begins by saying Jesus was "led by the spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." 

The first temptation attacked Jesus' human appetite.  "If you are really the Son of God, command these stones to become bread."  There is no doubt, Jesus was hungry.  He was in this wilderness for forty days without anything to eat.  That prompted the devil's challenge.  He told Jesus to turn some rocks into food, not only satisfying his hunger, but also demonstrating how powerful the Son of God could be.  But Jesus didn't fall for that. He was not about to use his supernatural power to satisfy his own physical need.  His reply to Satan came in the form of quoting a verse from Deuteronomy 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Then came the second temptation, in which Jesus was taken to the holy city, and up onto the pinnacle of the temple.  "If you are really the Son of God, throw yourself to the ground."  Satan's purpose in this was to get Jesus to use his power to put on a show in front of all the people. He would be gaining the attention and, no doubt, the approval of the crowds if he made a public demonstration of his power.  But again, Jesus reverted back to biblical writings from Deuteronomy 6:16  "You shall not tempt the Lord, your God."

Now the third temptation, this time with Jesus at the top of a high mountain.  Satan took him there and had Jesus look at all the kingdoms of the world, and told him, "You bow down to me, and I will give all these to you."  I'm not sure we realize what a compromise this promise of Satan is.  His promise of all the land and kingdoms of the world were given to him in that moment, it would be the easy way of accomplishing the purpose of his ministry.  Satan says, "Here is your short-cut."  Instead of bowing to Satan, Jesus, again quoted scripture from Deuteronomy 6:13, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."  Jesus had chosen the long and difficult way, the way which would include humiliation, suffering and pain.  But this was Jesus' way of letting Satan know, he was in for a fight to the finish. 

 

That fight to the finish came to be the defeat of Satan, when Jesus, by his shed blood, paid the debt of every sinner.  So even before all the parables, the miracles and even before he took the steps to the cross, Jesus was thinking of you. 

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