Series: Biblical Cities- Jerusalem [#21]
JERUSALEM- JESUS’ TEMPTATION
Matthew 23:37
Introduction:
We are continuing in our Series about the most mentioned City in the Bible- Jerusalem.
Matthew 23:37
We studied Jesus at 12 years old; and tonight, we are going to jump to the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. At this point, Jesus is 30 years old. It is during the temptation of Jesus that He goes to Jerusalem.
Luke 4:1-2
It is interesting that the Spirit of God led the Son of God into the desert to face Satan's temptations. It is also interesting that these temptations took place after Jesus’ baptism and before He began His public ministry. It seems that temptation and testing seem to come just before any great blessing and soon after. The Devil wants to spoil the blessing and God allows him to do so.
Why was it so important for Jesus to face these temptations from Satan? What role did the 40 days of fasting have in the temptations? What was the issue that had to be settled in the temptations? How does His temptations affect us today?
After his baptism Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to face His enemy. The confrontation was over the issue of obedience. Would the Son of God try to do God's work in a way that pleased Himself or would He do God's work God's way?
The desert was a place away from people. The Son of God was alone in His temptations. He had no help, no support, and no encouragement from family or friends. Satan had Him on his own. We also need to understand the terrible hunger of the 40 days fast. Jesus was at His weakest point; He was very vulnerable. Satan will attack you at your most vulnerable moment.
Jesus faced 3 temptations.
Luke 4:2b-4
The temptation was to…
1. Turn stones into bread.
A Messiah who feeds people and who heals their diseases can be a popular Messiah. God had sustained Jesus through 40 days without food and He could do it for another 40 days; and Jesus knew that. It was a test of His trust as well as teaching us that we cannot live, that is have the God life that was really meant for all of us, by eating only physical food- We need the spiritual food of God, His Word.
Luke 4:5-8
The temptation was to…
2. Worship Satan.
Satan promised that if Jesus would worship him, he would give Jesus the loyalty of the whole world without Jesus having to struggle for that loyalty. Each of these temptations offered Jesus a way to be the Messiah and gain the acceptance and loyalty of the world without having to suffer. God's way for him to be the Messiah was for Him to be the Suffering Servant that Isaiah had predicted in Isaiah 53.
Luke 4:9-12
The temptation was to…
3. Jump from a high place.
The highest point of the Temple was about 150 feet high. What an entrance that would have been! The temptation was to use His miraculous powers to win the crowd's acceptance and loyalty by a dramatic beginning to His ministry. He would appear suddenly falling from the sky and landing unhurt in front of the Priests and people. This was not God’s way. God must never be tested. We will not find God’s protection when we act or speak foolishly. We must always walk in the way of God’s leading.
Conclusion:
The temptations of Jesus were recorded for the benefit of all of us who are His disciples. We study the temptations because they give us insight into Jesus as the Son of God, God in flesh and blood; and because they show us the path we must follow. We have this promise that God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand the temptations through His power.
Luke 4:13-14
The devil was defeated and left; but he was not finished. Jesus began His earthly ministry.
