The Testing Of Jesus Series

Patrick Payton is senior pastor of Stonegate Fellowship in Midland, Texas.

Whether one is tested in the church or outside the church, the test will come. Should you fail the test, there will be a make-up test to retake. The good news is that He will be there with you to lean on and to trust!

So we find Jesus in a place of testing. Now we find that…

It Was a Place of TEMPTATION (13a)

A test and temptation are different. A test will reveal your character to yourself and build that character. Temptation is Satan’s way for you to sin against God. There are three main areas where we are tempted the most. First, there is the Lust of flesh. These are the desires we struggle with. There is also the Lust of eyes. Our eyes are the windows to our souls. And then there is the Pride of life. Satan knows where are weaknesses are and he will also attack your strengths. He is deceptive and sneaky. There are several passages of scripture which warn us regarding Satan’s craftiness. They include Matthew4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13 and I John2:16.

Illustration – Trouble

On the TV show Hee Haw, Doc Campbell is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. The doc replies, "Well then, stay out of them places!" He may have something there. We cannot regularly put ourselves in the face of temptation and not be affected. When faced with the problem of temptation, we need to take the good doctor’s advice and "stay out of them places."

It Was a Place of TRIUMPH (13b)

Jesus passed the test! He was victorious at the beginning of His ministry and victorious at the cross at the end of His ministry! Truly, He was triumphant.

It was in a place of desolation that we see the…

…Preparation for His ministry. Jesus began His ministry in the wilderness and barrenness of Israel. This was a lesson regarding the character of Christ and His dependence upon the Father. He trusted the Father and passed the test where Adam had failed in the best of circumstances.

Second, we find it a place of triumph because it began the…

…Revelation of His ministry. The angels ministered to the Son after He finished the temptation experience. They had announced His birth and they would confirm His resurrection. We see Him by faith now but will behold His glory when we come into His presence.

Finally, we note the…

…Demonstration of His ministry. His ministry demonstrated His might, power and glory. There is no other name under heaven or in earth that men can be saved except through the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was to go under further trauma and temptations on our behalf to reveal to us who He is. But His triumphant resurrection gives us an anchor to hold on to. Glory, what a Savior!