Jesus is tempted

Temptation is Common to all.

"Jesus was tempted"

When you hear the name Jesus what kind of mental picture comes into your mind? Close your eyes for just a second, don’t fall asleep, what kind of picture flashes in your mind’s eye at the sound of the word Jesus?

Classical Painting Jesus: a man with long flowing blond hair, blue eyes, with smooth complexion, never needing a shave, tanned but not dark enough to be considered foreign.

Hollywood Jesus : Chiselled Jaw, three day designer stubble, rugged but with every piece of hair still in place.

Stained Glass window Jesus: Open handed with a glowing Hallow or a ring of light around his head

Person Jesus: walking along the dusty, dirty roads of Galilee, with his feet getting all dirty from his open sandals, his brow wet with sweat from the heat, his clothes wrinkled and worn, his face lined with the signs of age. His hands with callous from working in his father’s carpenter shop, and his face with a 5 o’clock shadow

Do you picture Jesus as most artist do, a man with long flowing hair, with smooth complexion, with every piece of hair in place, and him never needing a shave? Or do you picture him walking along the dusty, dirty roads of Galilee, with his feet getting all dirty from his open sandals, his brow wet with sweat from the heat, his clothes wrinkled and worn, his face lined with the signs of age. His hands with callous from working in his father’s carpenter shop, and his face with a 5 o’clock shadow? How do you picture this Jesus Christ?? Do you see him as somehow always having a hallow or a ring of light around his head as some artist see him?

Sometimes we can spiritualise the view of Jesus to such an extent, that we forget he was a man, a human being, an historical person who walked this earth who did the kinds of things human beings do. Jesus Christ was true man, and true God. As a man, as a human being he felt, he experienced, he encountered all the emotions, all the senses, all the circumstances that we feel in life. He ate, he drank, he slept, he got dirty, he needed a bath, he prayed, he cried, he gave thanks, he worshiped. Jesus did and experienced all the things you and I experience in this life.

Today on the first sunday in lent we also here from that he even experienced temptation.

Luke 4:1–13 NIV

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:13

“Tempted” is a form of peirazō, which means “put to the test, make trial of” in order to discover the kind of person someone is

Jesus was tempted as you and I are tempted. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil after he had fasted for forty days. I was tempted by a biscuit a mere 11 hours into lent. Jesus was tempted by the devil to take the easy way out. He was tempted not so much with doing something evil, but with taking the easy way out. tempted to abandon gods plan and implement his own.

Taking the easy way out means we can blend into the crowd

Taking the easy way our put us ahead of those around us

Taking the easy way our focuses on the here and now rather than the eternal.

“The easy way out is the choice of the myopic.”

The second temptation was even more dramatic. The devil asked Jesus to worship him, then the devil would give Jesus the authority over all the earthly kingdoms. Jesus would be in charge of every kingdom of the earth. Jesus would be our president, He would be the one who would run every country. With Jesus in control of the world’s political, military, and economic power, disarmament would be swift, peace would be certain and an equal distribution of wealth would be immediate. Isn’t this a great idea? Jesus could take the easy way out, acknowledge the devil’s control of the earth, then he could change the course of history.

But Jesus knew he would change the course of history in a far more dramatic way. He would die on a cross and then his father would raise him from the dead defeating the devil’s control of this earth. Then Jesus working through his church would bring peace, disarmament, and an equal distribution of wealth, but all of this would be a long, drawn-out struggle. Jesus was tempted to take the easy way out, to avoid the cross, and to do the changes of this world himself instead of working through his people, the church. Sometimes this temptation is very difficult for us to defeat. Sometimes it is easier to do thing ourselves.

As a parent, when I am teaching the girls to do something, it is frustrating watching them try, maybe fail, but then try again to do something that I could have done in just a matter of moments. But if I would have done it for them, they would have learned any thing. If Jesus would have worshiped the devil and then be given the authority of the whole world, we would not have learned anything about establishing peace and justice on this earth because Jesus would have done it all for us.

The third temptation was the most dramatic. The devil had an other way for Jesus to serve as the Son of God: "Dive off the temple tower and let God perform a dramatic rescue," This event would show that God could be manipulated to do what we want and need. He is at our service. Such a message would be appealing to he masses, for we like to hear that God will keep us successful and happy. Take the easy way out and have God serve you, Jesus instead of you serving God. Yes, Jesus bargain with God, make deals with him, you be the boss, Jesus, sell God a hill of goods.

Trade with him, show him who is boss you are. This temptation hit Jesus right in the face. The devil tried to build up Jesus’ ego. He tried to show him that he can be powerful, he can even control God.

This temptation wasn’t really something so evil, not like stealing or killing or things like that, was it. But the subtleness of this temptation is even more damning. For this temptation is asking us to accept our will, our position before God instead of his. It asks us to be a salesmen,a trader,a bargainer with God. Well, God will do this if you will do that. Doesn’t sound so bad does it? But it is. For this temptation places us in control of our salvation, it places us in control of pleasing God, it places God at our mercy, instead of the other way around. God is the one who is in control, God is in charge of our salvation, God gives eternal life to us as a free gift, not as payment for good deeds.

Yes, Jesus was tempted, tempted not by doing something so awful, but by taking the easy way out. By taking the easy road instead of the difficult road of service, sacrifice and death.But these temptation didn’t stop here in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted by the devil to take the easy way right up to the moment of his death.

― E.L. Neve

Common temptations

Lets have a look at the specific temptations Jesus faced.

The first temptation was to change stones into bread. This temptation really seemed like a good idea, give the people what they think they need, food.

The temptation was not so much about Jesus feeding himself, but Jesus feeding others so that they would follow him Become the bread, Messiah, feed the hungry people of the world, satisfy their need for the basic thing of life food, then they will follow you, then you will have no problem getting the people to follow. was Satans offer.

As a church we can become focused on meeting the physical needs of those around us. And that is not a bad thing. Jesus was tempted with giving the people what they wanted instead of what they needed. Sure the people wanted food, but Jesus knew they needed more than food, they needed his spiritual food, they needed to listen to his teaching not because he bribed them with food, because he offered them life, eternal life. The church like Jesus needs to make sure that we don’t miss providing access to eternal hope in our rush to meet todays needs.

As individuals we need to make sure we do not compromise our eternal calling to be popular in the moment.

That is the next common temptation. temporary popularity in exchange for eternal relationship

The second temptation was even more dramatic. The devil asked Jesus to worship him, then the devil would give Jesus the authority over all the earthly kingdoms. Jesus would be in charge of every kingdom of the earth. Jesus would be our president, He would be the one who would run every country. With Jesus in control of the world’s political, military, and economic power, disarmament would be swift, peace would be certain and an equal distribution of wealth would be immediate. Take this in the context of Jerusalem at the time and this would have been very appealing to the Jews and just what they expected of the Messiah.

Isn’t this a great idea? Jesus could take the easy way out, acknowledge the devil’s control of the earth, then he could change the course of history.

But Jesus knew he would change the course of history in a far more dramatic way. He would die on a cross and then his father would raise him from the dead defeating the devil’s control of this earth. Then Jesus working through his church would bring peace, disarmament, and an equal distribution of wealth, but all of this would be a long, drawn-out struggle. Jesus was tempted to take the easy way out, to avoid the cross, and to do the changes of this world himself instead of working through his people, the church. Sometimes this temptation is very difficult for us to defeat.

Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sometimes it is easier to compromise in order to get the Job done.

Sometimes it is easier to do it ourselves and demand change rather than foster the love for God that brings transformation,

As a teacher, when I am teaching something, it is frustrating watching them try, maybe fail, but then try again to do something that I could have done in just a matter of moments. But if I would have done it for them, they would have learned any thing. If Jesus would have worshiped the devil and then be given the authority of the whole world, we would not have learned anything about establishing peace and justice on this earth because Jesus would have done it all for us.

Taking the easy way out is so often the most common temptations

Taking the easy way out means we can blend into the crowd

Taking the easy way our put us ahead of those around us

Taking the easy way our focuses on the here and now rather than the eternal.

“The easy way out is the choice of the myopic.”

― E.L. Neve

The third temptation was the most dramatic. The devil had an other way for Jesus to serve as the Son of God: "Dive off the temple tower and let God perform a dramatic rescue," This event would show that God could be manipulated to do what we want and need. He is at our service. Such a message would be appealing to he masses, for we like to hear that God will keep us successful and happy. Take the easy way out and have God serve you, Jesus instead of you serving God. Yes, Jesus bargain with God, make deals with him, you be the boss, Jesus, sell God a hill of goods.

Trade with him, show him who is boss you are. This temptation hit Jesus right in the face. The devil tried to build up Jesus’ ego. He tried to show him that he can be powerful, he can even control God.

This temptation wasn’t really something so evil, not like stealing or killing or things like that, was it. But the subtleness of this temptation is even more damning. For this temptation is asking us to accept our will, our position before God instead of his. It asks us to be a salesmen,a trader,a bargainer with God.

Well, God will do this if you will do that. Doesn’t sound so bad does it? But it is. It flies right in the face of grace.

For this temptation places us in control of our salvation, it places us in control of pleasing God, it places God at our mercy, instead of the other way around. God is the one who is in control, God is in charge of our salvation, God gives eternal life to us as a free gift, not as payment for good deeds.

Yes, Jesus was tempted, tempted not by doing something so awful, but by taking the easy way out. By taking the easy road instead of the difficult road of service, sacrifice and death.But these temptation didn’t stop here in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted by the devil to take the easy way right up to the moment of his death.

So what can we do about temptations....

Gods defences

The story of Abraham and Abimalek

​ NIV1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.” 8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” 10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” 11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” 14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18 for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

The Holy Spirit acts as a guide, an advisor.

we know when something is not right.

We have the cartoon image of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.

In reality it tends to be us that argue against the Holy Spirit’s advice not the devil.

Our defences

The Story of Josep and Pottiphars wife,

​ NIV1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

The best line of defence is to run away.

The best line of defence is to listen to the HS and to flee at the first sign.

There is story about a little boy in a grocery story. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut cookies."Now then, my lad," said the grocer as he approached the lad."What are you up to?""Nothing," replied the boy :’Nothing?""Well it looks to me as if you were trying to take a cookie?"

"You’re wrong, mister. I’m trying not to."

The impact of temptation.

Separation / forgiveness / restoration

Keep it in proportions.

Luke’s retelling of these events takes 13 verses and 256 words

Matthew’s account is a similar length

"You’re wrong, mister. I’m trying not to."

Marks says

mark 1:12-13

Mark 1:12–13 NIV

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Matthew 1:11–13 NIV

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

we are all tempted, often by our own egos, occasionally by others and seldom by satan. we should be watchful for when we are but like Mark we should not blow it our of all proportion.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 co

The road that Jesus calls us to follow is a narrow road, a road that is not easy, but difficult. A road where we are to follow him instead of ourselves, a road that asks us to sacrifice ourselves, our time and our energy for him. Jesus asks us to travel the hard road, because at the end of that road is our final reward, it is heaven, it is eternity with him.

So, as you are being tempted to take the easy way, what will you do???

Will you take the easy way, the way of little effort, or will you follow the example of Jesus and take the way traveled by him, the way of sacrifice, the way of service, the way of the cross?