Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptation Of Jesus Part 1 Series

Gospel of Luke 4:1-13

We are in a message series on the Gospel of Luke

The word “gospel” literally means “good news”

So, you could say that this series is about “The good news of Luke”

What exactly is this good news?

Simply put, it’s the life story of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most influential person who has ever existed

Even if you’re not a Christian, or even a particularly religious person, you cannot deny this fact

No one life has affected the whole of humanity more than Jesus Christ

Since He has affected the world so deeply you would think that all of us would know a lot about Him, but unfortunately that is not true

Many claim to know about Jesus, but in reality few people really do

The Gospel of Luke details the events of Jesus’ life from His birth to His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection

Luke is written by a Gentile to a Gentile audience

Since the vast majority of us listening to this message are Gentiles I think it’s very appropriate that we study this Gospel

As we jump into our passage today in Luke 4 we need to remember that Jesus had just been baptized by John the Baptist – that’s what our message was about last week – and was ready to fulfill His purpose

But before He began His ministry something else had to take place

Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Wow, quite a story! Let’s go ahead and break it down a little bit

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

So immediately after being baptized Jesus goes on a 40 day fast in the desert where He is tempted by the Devil

Is there some significance to this?

Absolutely!

Jesus had just been baptized and had quite a Spiritual high

After all, the Holy Spirit came down upon Him and God the Father spoke from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”

I would think that emotionally Jesus was flying pretty high

He knew that He was about to fulfill His ultimate purpose, namely the redemption of the world, and must have been excited!

I can certainly relate to that – whenever I know that I’m fulfilling part of my purpose I tend to get excited too!

Example – Tioga church plant

Before Jesus begins His earthly ministry though He decides to go on a 40 day fast

There could be many reasons behind this fast, and Scripture doesn’t tell us why Jesus did it

I can easily speculate though that Jesus knew He had to prepare Himself for what lie ahead and a fast was a very good way to do it!

So Jesus goes into the desert and fasts – or goes without food – for 40 days

However Jesus wasn’t alone during this time – verse 2 tells us that He was tempted by the devil

Why would the devil want to tempt Jesus?

In order for Jesus to fulfill His mission of redemption He had to remain sinless – if the devil could get Jesus to sin, then Jesus could not fulfill His mission