The Triumphant Tested

Introduction

I envision is a bright warm sunshine day. The water was perfect temperature, calm and serene.

John the Baptist is preaching his heart out when Jesus comes to him to be baptized.

What a glorious day that was as Jesus is taken into the water and baptized and as He comes up out of the water, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove lands on Him and the Father speaks from heaven those powerful words:

Matthew 3:17 “17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Many other things are written about him from this point on of the things that happened to him and the things that he did.

In fact John ends his Gospel with the claim

John 21:25 “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

But what we have in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is somewhat of a four person perspective biography of Jesus.

I love what Thomas Oden writes about this:

What was written about him was not written simply as biography, for biographies are written of persons who are dead and quite deactivated. A biography is a written history of a person’s whole bios (“life”). A biography of a person still alive is by definition incomplete. Rather the gospel is the account of a person who remains quite active, palpably present, whose heart still beats with our hearts, one who died who is now alive (Augustine, CG XIII.18–24, NPNF 1 II, pp. 254–61; Bonhoeffer, Christology).

The Word of Life: Systematic Theology, Volume Two (Jesus Himself Is the Good News)

But we know it was a journey from the inauguration of His ministry to the empty tomb and ascension.

Our reading this morning - is but one of those stops along the journey that holds so much significance for us that is often missed in our rush toward Easter.

This morning I would like us to wander into the wilderness and watch and experience what Jesus encounters himself but not just for himself - but for us.

Lets read Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 4:1–11 KJV 1900

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

This story is also covered by Mark and Luke - while there are many parallels there are also several differences I want to point out before we go too much further.

Mark’s Gospel gives the entire narrative 2 verses (Mark 1:12-13) and he mentions that this wilderness is where the wild beasts are.

John doesn’t mention the temptation of Jesus at all.

Luke gives us a completely different order of temptations (Luke 4:1-13) Scholars are quick to point out that Luke follows a more logical or thematic order while Matthew’s Gospel follows a chronological order - which is why I chose to read this version for our message today.

I would encourage you this week to sit down this week and read all three passages and reflect on them. There is more truth in them than I will be able to speak to this morning. Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.

But the temptation of Christ narrative brings to light three very important ideas that I want to share with you this morning.

I would like to with the Lord’s help this morning - help us to see that the Triumphant One is Tested - not just to see if his love is loyal and true - but to better assist and help us in our times of testings.

The first idea I would like us see in this passage is...

1 - A Diabolical Date in the Desert

Explanation

Matthew 4 begins with a timing word - “then” which would immediately follow what has previously happened. Which was the baptism and Holy Spirit descending and the voice of the Father. This would have been an exhilarating and high point in a persons life.

And so it often is after one is born again, or has a significant spiritual experience that we face just as significant or more so testing and trials.

But the narrative tells us that as soon as Jesus’s baptism was complete he was led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke’s Gospel informs us that is was more than a three little temptation test - Luke 4:2 “2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”

So we must understand this was not a happen chance ordeal - it was a test divinely ordered and appointed.

I want to establish the fact that there is a real evil in this world - and it finds its roots in the rebellion of Satan himself.

This rebellion and attempt to usurp the throne of God and to destroy the plan of God to redeem us back to himself once and for all was and is very very real.

I know it isn’t something we like to talk about much - but there are real satanic forces in this world - and when I hear government officials talk about a criminal as being evil - I say they really don’t understand what they are saying.

It is an injustice of inestimable proportion to just see the devil or evil reduced to a symbol of the evil tendencies lurking in human nature,

Evil doesn’t just abound in killing people - it thrives on anything that distrusts and disobeys God.

It is woven into the very texture of biblical revelation. -

Everett Harrison perhaps put it best when he wrote:

“Satan's kingdom is not confined to evil spirits and to the upper reaches of the atmosphere. It has invaded the souls and bodies of men. This same sphere of human life is the territory where the kingdom of God should operate. Hence the collision is inevitable. If Jesus would spoil the house (by delivering from demonic power), he must first bind the strong man (Satan) who stands in control (Mk. 3:26-27). The temptation, then, has immediate relevancy to the ministry of healing which was to occupy our Lord so largely in days to come.”

(A Short Life of Christ, Harrison p73)

SO we see this being led away into the wilderness was more than just a test for Jesus it is our hope that He is triumphant - our very salvation hinges on whether he is triumphant over the diabolical dealings of the devil during this hard and horrible time.

It was a destined diabolical date

Destined as It must happen - as there would ultimately and consistently be a cosmic conflict as the Kingdom of God began to invade the kingdom of this world.

There is a tremendous recall or far reaching connection if you remember Adam in Genesis 3 is God’s son - so is Jesus of Nazareth.

The narrative of Adam’s failure under the subtle satanic pressure in the Garden all those years ago stands in the background.

Now Jesus the Second Adam comes on the scene and has this destined diabolical date in the wilderness dessert

Redemption history revolves around him. If he fails as Adam failed - all hope for mankind is gone.

Destined because it was necessary to test the love and loyalty of Christ.

As part of his preparation for public ministry

Now I don’t want to tread very far into the murky theological waters of all the connotations of these temptations - but the reality had to exist - that for this to be a temptation - a test - there had to be an appeal of some kind.

Scripture is clear Heb 2:18

Hebrews 2:18 KJV 1900

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14–16 KJV 1900

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

As part of his participation in our humanity for atonement.

Illustration

Who would have thought of bringing in the Kingdom of Heaven with such a strategy and under such circumstances.

Alfred Edersheim perhaps said it best when he wrote, “With reverence be it said, it is only God Who would thus begin His Kingdom.”

It is often a test of what we have learned - a test of our loyalty and love to God

When I worked for Hardees as a shift manager - I was working one morning - one of my first shifts as a manager so other managers were there too - but I looked around and noticed all of them were either gone or on break. It was at this time that the health inspector showed up.

I wanted to run and hide too - but I knew I had been set up for a test -

I had a nice inspector who told me how much he liked our restuarant and so would be nice to me - but would still hold us to the standard - perhaps a little more so since he liked to eat there.

I had to just give him access to everything and let him inspect to his hearts content. I saw him go to the kitchen area - and I paniced - I knew what the kitchen could look like in the middle of a rush - which we were in at the moment.

Then he went to the storage room - that was a mess

then into the walkin refridgerator and freezer - I was a nervous wreck I almost forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

It was a test of several things - I passed by the way...

And thank God so did Jesus.

Application

We all have our tests not with the health inspector but there will be times when the devil himself will suggest things to us - it is in that moment that our loyalty and love for Jesus are being put to the test. - How do you do in those circumstances?

The songwriter put it this way:

Tempted and tried I need a great Savior, One who can help my burdens to bear; I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus; He all my cares and sorrows will share,

4

O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus; He will enable Over the world the vic’try to win.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!   Jesus can help me, Jesus alone

We aren’t left alone in those times of tests and trials even though it may feel like it - the teacher is often silent during the test

But we have the Triumphant One who has triumphed gloriously over the tempter and HE WILL HELP US!!!

Not only was it a diabolical date in the desert it was....

2 - A War of Wits, Wills, and Worship

The Devil is clever and dangerous - and we are no match for him -

Notice there was a consistent allusion to what Jesus had just heard before he was led into the wilderness -

Matthew 3:17 “17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

This is attacked over and over again - if Satan could make the Father displeased with the Son he would win in his endeavor

SATAN LIMITED IN POWER, Jb 1:12; Lam 3:7; Lu 8:33; 10:19; 10:20; Ro 16:20; 1 Co 10:13; Ja 4:7; 1 Jn 4:4; Re 12:12; 13:5; 20:3.

In the Affliction of the Saints

May be Overcome by Divine Grace

A Limit to His Temptations

Knows When He is Defeated

His Time is Short

4200 SATANIC IF’S which challenged Christ’s Divinity

1. At the Temptation

If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread, Mt 4:3.

If You are the Son of God throw yourself down, Mt 4:6.

2. At the Cross:

If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save Yourself

a. The cry from the crowd, Mt 27:40.

b. The cry of the soldiers, Lu 23:37.

c. The cry of the criminal, Lu 23:39.

What was the first temptation? (Mat. 4:3) Bread to stone (humanity) Lust of flesh

the basic issue in this temptation? Obedience/Acting on his own apart from God’s will

Jesus draws all his answers to Satan? Deuteronomy

Have you ever wondered why does he take his answers from this book?

First it is God’s Word but

second Deuteronomy recounts Israel’s wanderings and God’s purpose in causing them to be hungry – to test them.

the second temptation? (Using Matthew’s account to answer.) Jump from the Temple Pinnacle

What was the basic point being tested in the second temptation Put God to the test to see if He will really keep His word (i.e., faith)

What was the third temptation? (Use Matthew’s account to answer.) Kingdoms of the world (lust of the eye)

What was the basic point being tested in the third temptation? Who to serve (worship)

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Not only was it a diabolical date, and a war of wits and worship, but we also see

3 - Christ Conquers in the COnflict

Because of His unwavering loyal love for the Father

Because of His knowledge, obedience and internalizing of Scripture

Because we needed a representative and a redeemer (he overcame so can we)

satan leaves and is now intent upon snatching the word of God

The Angel's came and ministered unto Him. If he felt affirmed before, I can imagine how much more now.

Conclusion

The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and of His Christ;