Jesus Overcame What We Never Could
11/20 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 15; James 2; Amos 9; Luke 4
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
11/20 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 15; James 2; Amos 9; Luke 4
Luke 4:3
“The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
TEMPTATION
The devil said, “If You are the Son of God,” and being God’s Son, it may present a difficulty for our minds; as we just read yesterday that “God cannot be tempted with evil” (Jas 1:13), and also read less than 2 weeks ago that Jesus…
…in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Well, since we’ve been reading our Bibles daily, there comes a point in the Christian walk when we must come face to face with the two natures of Christ— His being eternal God and fully Man. Considering Christ’s temptations in the wilderness is such a time. While there is certainly an unfathomable spiritual element going on with the Lord’s temptation, since the devil “showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5), and “set Him on the pinnacle of the temple” (Luke 4:9), the Lord Jesus encountered these temptations as fully flesh and bone human being; for after having fasted for forty days,
…He was hungry. Luke 4:2
Jesus was at a point of literal starvation physically. The temptations He endured were such as was common to any man. The Lord Jesus suffered them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And while the devil “departed from Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13), Jesus still suffered, endured, and overcame every possible temptation through His ministry— doubting Jews, unbelieving family and friends (Luke 4:22), disciples’ misunderstanding, and the jealousy of religious leaders, to name just a few. As a Man, Jesus relied upon the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit, just as you and I should. Moreover, as the Lord Jesus trusted His heavenly Father in all things, and communed with Him through the Spirit for strength, refreshment, and encouragement, likewise so should we rely upon Christ in all things, communing with Him through the Spirit for strength, refreshment, and encouragement. Christ is not aloof. He has come nearer than we can imagine. Jesus knows you and me better than we know ourselves. Finally, every temptation stayed with His perfect mind all the way to the cross, NEVER succumbing, submitting, or failing to overcome the temptations in thought, word, and deed. As a Man, Jesus came to do what we could not possibly accomplish in our mortal flesh. That’s why, by grace through faith, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Hallelujah! What a thorough Savior!