Child of the King: Temptation and Identity
First Sunday of Lent 2006
Dr. Paul G. Humphrey
There was a young preacher visiting with an old man who had an old hound dog. The preacher said, “that sure is a nice dog, what is his name?” The old farmer hemmed and hawed and said, “what is that flower with a long stem with thorns and red pedals?” The preacher replied, “a rose.” The old farmer said, “that is right.” Looking over to his wife, the farmer said, “Rose, what do we call that old dog?”
Do you always remember that you are a child of the King? We are going to be looking this morning at the temptation of Jesus. And, central to the temptations that Jesus faces is the repeated statement of Satan, “if you are the Son of God.”
As we face temptation in life, we must also remember that we are children of the King. Let’s begin in Mark this morning.
MK 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
MK 1:12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
MK 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
This morning we are looking at the temptation of Jesus.
In Mark we see that after Jesus’ baptism, after he sees the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, he hears the affirmation of the Father expressing Jesus’ identity, the Father’s love for him and the Father’s good pleasure in him.
And Jesus is sent into the wilderness by the Spirit. A strong word for “sent” is used here. He was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. It is a verb Mark usually reserves for exorcisms or violent acts.
Mark 1:12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. (KJV)
Friends, that same Spirit will lead us.
Romans 8 Tells us that those that are led by the Spirit are children of God.
1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;
and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. (KJV)
Was this temptation real? Could Jesus be tempted?
The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way, yet, found to be without sin. It is hard for us to understand how God could take on flesh and be fully God the Son, and yet, Fully man.
The tempter often arrives as we are led by the Spirit, as we are doing the will of God. His goal is to deceive us concerning our understanding of God’s purpose. Satan’s goal is to overturn the intended result.
He often comes when we are at our weakest. And, we sometimes fail to realize when we are at our weakest point.
Let’s look to Matthew 4:1 so that we can get a better look at the temptation of Jesus.
1. Flesh vs. Faith in and Obedience to the Word of God
MT 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
In this first temptation, Jesus is weak, after fasting for forty days.
As I said earlier, the Tempter may come you when you are weak too. Not when you have just really felt the affirmation of God and gotten on fire for church work, but after you have been in the wilderness for forty days.
After you have spent forty days in the wilderness of marital problems . . . here comes Satan.
After you have spent forty days in the wilderness of financial problems … here comes Satan.
After you have spent forty days in the wilderness of grief . . . here comes Satan saying, are you really a child of God?
Satan is usually saying, “Ignore your vow, your fidelity, your faith or your morals, because you can turn this situation around on your own. These rocks can be bread.
Jesus has been in the wilderness for 40 days “not eating.” Why? Is there anything wrong with eating? I would propose to you that Jesus is not eating, not because there is nothing to eat, but because he is fasting. This is a special time for Jesus.
Satan hit Jesus with a double-barrel temptation. Break your fast by using your powers for self and secondly, prove that you are the Son of God. Satan says “since you are the son of God” in the affirmative. In Greek it might better read, “If you are the Son of God, which you certainly are, turn these stones into bread.” So, the first part of this temptation is breaking the fast, and the second is justifying the breaking of the fast by proving your identity in using your power for yourself. Who is Jesus to prove it to? Himself? Satan?
MT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ "
Jesus uses Scripture to address the devil. I want you to realize the depth of what Jesus quotes.
He quotes Deut. 8:3 “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” It is important to keep in mind that Jesus 40 days in the wilderness parallels Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness, the temptations are the same, and Jesus is quoting Scripture here pertaining to their failure regarding this temptation, preferring the food of Egypt and slavery of Egypt to God’s provision, and freedom that God offers.
We can set our desire above God’s purpose. In this case it is for food.
In 1 Corinthians Paul says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” (10:9).
The lack of food is addressed in Jesus quote. God has a purpose for its absence. It was to teach full reliance on God and total faith in God and his word. Live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And what word came from the mouth of God just 40 days prior? “This is my Son, who I love, and in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus does not need to prove the word of God to himself or Satan. And, Jesus is not about to end his fast before his time there is complete, nor is he willing to use his powers for himself.
Be it a stone or a piece of bread, it is not going to be a stumbling block to Jesus.
Thomas Moore has a book entitled “Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses.” Sometimes we can come up with excellent excuses for sin, and Satan is always willing to help us in this endeavor.
This first temptation concerns fleshly needs and faith in the word of God, specifically God’s provision and Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.
The old Devil is crafty, and he will continually attempt to get you to fall by justifying that which is not in line with God’s word or will for your life. He always ultimately seeks rejection of God’s word. He wants you to doubt that you are a child of the King.
He will even use, or I should say, misuse Scripture to try to accomplish it.
2. Misuse of Power vs. Faith in and Obedience to the Word of God
MT 4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
“`He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ "
Did you hear what I just heard? Was Satan quoting Scripture? Some of the most wicked people that you will ever meet in this world will know Scripture well, but they will not know its Author, or its proper interpretation. Satan knows Scripture. And, he is standing before its Author who has become fully man, and as fully man tempted in every way that people can be tempted.
The Devil bids Jesus to jump from the highest point of the Temple and to let God protect him "lest he dash his foot against a stone." Jesus’ response is once again from Deuteronomy, 6:16, which recalls the testing of God at Massah.
MT 4:7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ "
Jesus could have tested his power here, against the will of the Father. Jesus never used his power for anything that was self-serving. If he performed a miracle, it was to feed or heal those he took pity on.
His power was used to carry out the will of the Father.
Could Satan’s temptation here be that of tempting Jesus to solely be a miracle working Messiah, rather than a suffering servant? Jesus rejects any way except the way of faith and obedience, which would ultimately be the way of the cross; this is in sharp contrast to the wilderness experience of the Hebrews, whose lack of faith, despite the signs and wonders they had seen, caused God to bar their entrance the promised land.
The devil in essence said, "You believe in the Word of God, and you believe in the resurrection. Jump and prove your identity, prove what God’s word says of you. Prove to yourself now whether or not this scripture will work.
Jesus says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test," for the "testing" of God is the opposite of faith (Numbers 14:22).
Do you have doubt as you are led by the Spirit? Doubt is not of faith.
And, there seems to be a short gap between lack of faith and using the power that God gives us for self serving ends. We are each given skills and abilities that we choose how to use.
Jesus countered Satan’s misuse of Scripture with the proper use of Scripture. He knows the whole Bible, not just select verses. Heresy is usually the taking a verse of Scripture and in disregard to the rest of the Bible running with that one verse to its logical conclusion.
How can we misuse power? Sometimes our service to God can really be service to ourselves. Sometimes ministers, musicians and writers get caught up in fame. Sometimes workers in churches can get caught up in the pride of leadership and control. There are a lot of different ways in which this can be applied. Ultimately, we must ask ourselves, is our ministry, or service toward God all about God, or all about ourselves. Do we need plaudits?
Many in this world will only use Scripture for their own self-serving advantage, ignoring the proper use of the power that God places in our hands with our own talents and abilities. Again, the way Satan attempts this is still, prove that which you have faith in.
You will not find Jesus using his power for himself or for purposes outside of God’s will.
Jesus knows who his father is, and he needs no sign.
3. Earthly Glory vs. Faith in and Obedience to the Word of God
MT 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
In this last temptation, Satan promises earthly power and glory to Jesus, if only he will join forces with Satan and worship him. This is a sharp approach. The Devil is promising instant fulfillment of an earthly messiah in the line of David, and probably more in line with the expectation of most of Jesus followers at that time, without the inconveniences of the suffering servant and the cross.
All this was to be given to Jesus anyway, oh but at what a price, because we came with it. And, we had to be bought at a price.
We know how much Christ dreaded to drink the cup bearing the worlds sin, as he became sin for us while on the cross. Sweating drops of blood Jesus prayed, "Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me, yet not as I will, but thy will be done."
Yet, there is no other way.
Once again, Jesus’ response takes us back to Deut. 6:13-15, where Israel is in the wilderness. Israel is warned that if they turn to other gods, the anger of the Lord will be kindled against them and they would face destruction. (v. 15)
MT 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
People are tempted to reject God all the time for worldly gain.
How tempted might we be to think that we can actually serve God without sacrifice?
Jesus sends him away. The Bible says resist Satan and he will flee from you. (at least for a season) Yet, he is always coming back.
MT 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Isn’t it comforting that God sends his angels to Jesus in the wilderness. He sends his angels to us as well.
I mentioned before that central to all of the temptations of Jesus, his identity was central to the temptation.
Do you find it odd that while Jesus was being crucified crucified, a voice from the crowd cried "if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Is that not pretty well the same temptation as before? Could Jesus have come down from the cross? You bet your boots he could. As someone once said, "it wasn’t nails that held Jesus to the cross, it was his love for us." (Source Unknown)
He was in every way tempted as we are, yet he was without sin.
We should not take temptation lightly.
Since Satan managed to take one third of the angels with him we know his conversation can be convincing.
Our belief in Jesus makes us children of God too. Not in the same way that Jesus is Son of God, for he is deity in flesh, but we are called children of God in the Bible, and we are joint heirs with Christ.
We need to remember who we are as the Tempter comes.
At church one morning, my friend Gwen was about to start her 4-year-olds’ Sunday school class when a little boy showed up without any identification. Gwen managed to get his first name, but couldn’t find out his last name. "Brian, what’s your daddy’s name?" she asked. "Daddy," he replied. She tried again, "Brian, what’s your mommy’s name?" "Mommy," he answered. Suddenly she realized exactly how she could get the answer she needed. "Brian, what does your daddy call your mommy?" His face lit up. With a grin and a deep voice, he replied, "Hey, Babe." – (Susan Boatright, Savannah, GA) [SermonCentral]
Contributed by: Darren Ethier
God calls you his son or daughter.
You are children of God, and don’t think that the old Devil don’t want you to doubt that.
Jesus set his gate, set his direction and went forward unflinchingly as the Spirit led. He went in the path that the Father willed him to tread. Even so, we must set our faces toward the cross as well and have great determination of purpose, in order not to be turned away by the devil from the path God would have us to walk in.
Don’t forget who you are.
