Victory in the Wilderness

Oops: Upsetting the Equilibrium

It must have been an incredible day. Jesus had come down to the river and gotten baptized. I wonder if the people there would have heard the conversation that He and John had when John said that he was not worthy to be baptized. One would have thought that after such an amazing day Jesus would have started His ministry to the people immediately. But why did God come to earth? Was it just to minister to people, heal the sick, live a perfect life, preach the good news? Yes, these are all correct. Jesus also come to set the captives free. Captives? Who are they? It is us. Jesus came to set us all free from satan and sin and to give us life that we may have it abundantly. If this was His mission, why did Jesus go into the wilderness to be Tempted? Another question linked to this is why did the Spirit led Jesus there to be tempted? This is odd because we know that God does not temp.

Why would God send Jesus out into the wilderness to be Tempted?

Ugh: The Plot Thickens

Satan had been planning the moment for years. Jesus had been in a desolate area for forty days fasting with no food no water. Fasting in a Christian view is to indicate a reliance, dependence on God but it also points to a submission to God. Jesus while in the wilderness was setting the tone of the rest of His life. It would be one of submission to God and one of reliance and dependence on Him. The wilderness was an area of contorted strata, where the ridges run in all directions as if they were warped and twisted. The hills are like dust-heaps; the limestone is blistered and peeling; rocks are bare and jagged. It glows and shimmers with heat like some vast furnace. It runs right out to the Dead Sea, and then there comes a drop of 1,200 feet, a drop of limestone, flint and marl, through crags and precipices down to the Dead Sea. The geography is descriptive of how alone and destitute Jesus was.

Is this how your life is at times? Are you feeling like this at the moment? Do you feel like you have arrived at the drop off and you are falling and that nothing will stop till you hit rock bottom?

It can give us an idea as to how hungry and thirsty He must have been. From the moment that Jesus entered into the wilderness He felt the weight of the conflict between satan and the government of God. During these forty days Jesus experienced a depth of anguish that we have never realized. Jesus was experiencing the strength of indulged appetite and unholy passion. These have griped this world. These have griped us whether we like it or not.

But still as I read these words, I think, why would Jesus be taken there to be tempted. Tempted has to do with that which satan brings to us. Was God leading Jesus to commit sin? Was He being enticed to do wrong? But tempt peirazein means more to test than it means to tempt. It is unthinkable that God would make any of us do wrong. The story where Abraham where he is told by God to sacrifice Isaac has been translated by some versions God tempted him. But we see that at the conclusion of the story that it was a test of loyalty. So as Jesus goes into the desert, He experiences a test a trial.

But still as I read these words I think why would Jesus be taken there to be tempted. Tempted has to do with that which satan brings to us. Was God leading Jesus to commit sin? What He being enticed to do wrong? But tempt peirazein means more to test than it means to tempt. It is unthinkable that God would make any of us do wrong. The story where Abraham where he is told by God to sacrifice Isaac has been translated by some versions God tempted him. But we see that at the conclusion of the story that it was a test of loyalty. So as Jesus goes into the desert He experiences a test a trial.

Aha: Disclosing the Clue to Resolution

From the third chapter of Genesis we read of a conflict. We read that Adam chose not to trust God. We then read later in that chapter that God says that someone will crush the head of the serpent. Someone will come can battle the same battle of Adam and also a greater battle.

The battle against satan himself to regain rulership of this world. The battle or test was not so much about food, although in this test Jesus gained the victory of appetite and addiction to food. We must remember that the bread was desirable. He was so hungry even to the point of death. But He needed to control His human passions. Since the fall of Adam mankind had become so week in moral power that they could not overcome in their own strength. By overcoming this test of appetite Jesus freely gives His strength and victory to all those that seek and ask for it. Jesus was over coming every test that Adam had failed in so that He might break the power of satan and redeem His beloved children, us.

Whee: Experiencing the Gospel

While we live in a wilderness every day and very comparable to literal wilderness that Jesus was in one of our greatest challenges we face is trust in the Word of God. For Jesus, the test of turning the stones to bread was not just about apatite but trust in God. Satan was suggesting to Jesus in this temptation that God would not leave His Son in this condition of want. A God of love would not do this. Satan wanted to shake the confidence that Jesus had in God. Satan had hoped to insinuate doubt in God who is love. In the book Redemption Ellen White says, that this was a temptation to Jesus. However, He did not for a single moment doubt His Heavenly Father’s love.

Do you struggle at times in trusting God? While you look to the future or while you go through difficult times. Marriage issues, finances, personal struggles are you relying on your own power to overcome, because you do not know if Jesus is there for you? I want to assure that He is here for you. This passage of Scripture testifies that He know what you are going through, and He says I am here for you. Let me be in control. I have the experience, the strength.

Jesus responds to the devil by saying, that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This is a quotation from man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. To better understand the significance of this quotation we need to look at where that passage comes from. It is a passage of Scripture that was reminding Israel what God had done for them. It was also one saying, that they should not live by worldly sustenance but rather that which God gives them. What did God give them?

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. To better understand the significance of this quotation we need to look at where that passage comes from. It is a passage of Scripture that was reminding Israel what God had done for them. It was also one saying, that they should not live by worldly sustenance but rather that which God give them. What did God give them says, every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe. What commandment what law is being spoken of here? If we go back to it is none other than the 10 commandments. This law is not some arbitrary set of rules that are force on Israel. No. Rather they are described as a covenant the Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Israel is to adhere to them because of the relationship they have with God. They are the standard of the relationship that they and us choose to live by. this choice is described in “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe,

says, every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe. What commandment what law is being spoken of here? If we go back to it is none other than the Ten Commandments. This law is not some arbitrary set of rules that are forced on Israel. No. Rather they are described as a covenant The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. 4 The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. 5 I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word “bara” of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said:

. To better understand the significance of this quotation we need to look at where that passage comes from. It is a passage of Scripture that was reminding Israel what God had done for them. It was also one saying, that they should not live by worldly sustenance but rather that which God give them. What did God give them says, every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe. What commandment what law is being spoken of here? If we go back to it is none other than the 10 commandments. This law is not some arbitrary set of rules that are force on Israel. No. Rather they are described as a covenant the Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Israel is to adhere to them because of the relationship they have with God. They are the standard of the relationship that they and us choose to live by. this choice is described in “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .. Israel is to adhere to them because of the relationship they have with God. They are the standard of the relationship that they and us choose to live by. this choice is described in ,

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

This relationship is like a marriage. When we look at our marriages, we can all say that we have had expectations of our spouses prior to marriage. In that we chose to love them. It is no different with God. This is what Jesus is getting at. He is saying that He will stick to the relationship with God. He will be obedient to the Ten Commandments. He knows that we can’t, so He does it for us. In this temptation Jesus is being tempted to reject the Ten Commandments and thereby the covenant, relationship with God. satan is wanting Jesus to reject the standard of God relationship. Jesus’ response is that man can only live in the relationship with God.

Israel is to adhere to them because of the relationship, the covenant of verse 3 they have with God. They are the standard of the relationship that they and us choose to live by. this choice is described in

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words “bara” which I command you today shall be in your heart.

Jesus is saying that these words the “rema” and its equivalent Old Testament word “bara” come from God, He is the creator, He is the only one who can give these words, “rema”, “bara” by which we can live. The words by which Jesus and us, are called to live are moral instructions. They are to be relational. This relationship is like a marriage. When we look at our marriages, we can all say that we have had expectations of our spouses prior to marriage. In that we chose to love them. It is no different with God. This is what Jesus is getting at. He is saying that He will stick to the relationship with God. He will be obedient to the Ten Commandments. He knows that we can’t, so He does it for us. In this temptation Jesus is being tempted to reject the Ten Commandments and thereby the covenant, relationship with God. satan is wanting Jesus to reject the standard of God relationship. Jesus’ response is that man can only live in the relationship with God.

Yeah: Anticipating the Future

Jesus know that we cannot keep the Ten commandments, He knows that we are morally too week. So, when we look at it what do we see. We see that we are so far removed from God, when I try to honour God I miss the mark. We end up saying like Paul, O recharged man that I am. , O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! He says that he gives thanks to God because, Jesus kept the law and in Jesus we have kept the law and our relationship with God perfect. The beauty of His law is that when we look at it like we see a perfect God and law and we see a perfect Jesus who saves us through His life. This message of Jesus is amazing. He came to bear our burdens and griefs. The wonderful message here is that Jesus come from the courts of Heaven uniting earth and Heaven giving us Himself, His power, victory, and life that in Him we are over comers. He did this so that in Him we have hope of life and life abundant.

Amen

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

he says that he gives thanks to God because Jesus kept the law and in Jesus we have kept the 10 commandments and our relationship with God perfectly.