Jesus, The Better Adam

Introduction

I am really excited to preach this passage today, because I believe that Luke 4 (coupled with Matthew 4) - the temptation of Jesus, is one of the most incompletely taught texts in the Bible.

Often, I have heard pastors read the text, jump straight into the temptations, and finish with three points about how we can resist temptations.

The main point of this text is not how to resist temptations but who is Jesus. Now, we can observe how to resist temptations, but if we too quickly move there - we miss the entire point.

Would you like to know how I know this is true? When was the last time you were asked to turn stones to bread? When was the last time that you were tempted with all of the kingdoms of the world - that are already yours? When was the last time that you were asked throw yourself off a building so that angels would catch you and legitimize your ministry? I daresay…never.

Luke 4:1–13 ESV

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Our ability to resist temptations comes not from our abilities but rather in the Son of God who gave Himself for us.

Explanation

Jesus is the greater Adam and the greater Israel.

We finished last week with God the Father’s statement to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus is God’s Son, thus Jesus is God. Much like I am an Alford because my father is an Alford, Jesus is God’s son, thus Jesus is God.

The next section of Scripture is the lineage of Jesus traced back, not to Abraham as in the gospel of Matthew, but to Adam and God.

Adam, the first man created in the image of God (but not God), sinned against God and thus invoked the sin of man upon all who would come after him.

While we are on the topic of Adam and Eve, we must compare their stories to Jesus’.

Like Adam and Eve were tempted in the garden, Jesus was taken into the wilderness.

While Adam and Eve lived in great abundance, Jesus had fasted without food for 40 days and nights

YET, Christ conquered Satan in his temptations, while Adam and Eve fell.

What Adam and Eve set in motion, Jesus would reverse.

Another powerful moment is the people of Israel in the wilderness.

Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days without food, while the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years with daily manna from God.

God desired for the people of Israel to be a light and a beacon to the world. The book of judges you read last week is a definitive answer - Israel could be a light and beacon for the world, but they could not save it.

Notice that Jesus answers every temptation with Scripture from Moses sermon to the people in Deuteronomy.

Where Adam, the first son, and Israel, the adopted son, allowed sin to enter the world and continue to corrupt the world, Jesus would end the sin that entered the world.

Jesus overcame the temptations of Satan AS the Son of God.

Jesus was tempted by Satan.

The first temptation was for Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus was tempted to not trust the provision of God. God would give Jesus what he needed.

Adam and Eve rebelled because they thought something was being withheld from them, and the people of Israel complained about the manna provided.

Jesus says,”I love by God’s Word alone.” I will trust Him.

The second temptation was for Jesus to have all of the kingdoms of the world.

What a foolish temptation… doesn’t Jesus already have everything.

Remember in temptation that Satan is a liar, and He cannot actually give you what He says He will give you.

Jesus responds with the Shema from Moses, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.”

The third temptation was for Jesus to throw Himself from the temple so that angels would catch Him.

Satan actually uses Scripture in this instance to tempt Jesus. A quote from Psalm 91:11-12 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

The funny thing is, Satan forgets to mention Psalm 91:13 “You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.”

I want to share with you the similarities between Jesus temptation and the temptation of Eve:

Genesis 3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

The woman saw that the tree was “good for food” // “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

The woman saw that the tree was... “a delight for the eyes.” // “And the devil took him up and SHOWED him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time”

The woman saw that the tree was… “to be desired to make one wise.” // “And the devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here”

Jesus victory over sin and Satan is OUR victory.

IF you look at your actions for your salvation, you will never be saved. Look to Jesus who overcame temptation.

Many of us go through the motions of cleaning ourselves up every Sunday to see palatable to God. You will never be perfect this side of Eternity. Only Jesus will.

Invitation

Jesus came, earned right standing with God, and gave it to all who would call upon His name.

You biggest problem today isn’t your spouse, kids, job, or circumstances - it’s your sin. Without Jesus’ you will be helpless against it.

Come to him and receive healing, cleansing, and eternal life.