Unbreakable Savior

After 30 years of dwelling in obscurity, waiting, operating on the Father’s timetable as a willing Son, Jesus’ messianic ministry has begun. The messiah is here.

Jesus, the Son of God, has come as the suffering servant.

He will offer Himself willingly on behalf of all mankind.

The king is here.

He will identify with sinners. Jesus, perfect and sinless, is going to take His place among those who need to be redeemed.

➟ ➟ ➟ Isaiah 53.11 - Jesus will carry their sins and through His complete obedience, He will justify many.

So again, I want you to see in Matthew 3.13-17 - we have a proclamation that Jesus is King.

➟ ➟ ➟ And now I want you to see Matthew 4.1-11 as demonstration that He is King.

He is going to prove that He can win by going to battle against Satan.

Jesus is bold enough to confront Satan by facing the disorder and ugliness Satan created.

If Matthew 3.17 shows us goodness at its highest level has commended Him...

Then Matthew 4.1-11 shows us evil at its lowest being conquered by Jesus.

The events in the chapter are also mentioned in Mark 1.12-13 and Luke 4.1-13 and are unobserved by humans. This is special insight into the confrontation between Jesus & Satan.

They are completely alone.

The story has been preserved for us to show how Jesus struggled with temptation just like we do … and to shed light for us on our own path to victory.

Victory comes by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 4:15 CSB

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:18 CSB

18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Jesus has been there. He has experienced victory. He can help. How does he help?

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

What is the way of escape? It’s fixing our eyes on Jesus. Turning our attention away from whatever is confronting us. Jesus is the one who draws us through temptation all the way to victory!

➟ ➟ ➟ This month we are focusing on how Jesus inspires our faith … specifically by examining His continual faithfulness to the Father.

Last week we saw Jesus’ victorious proclamation: The Messiah, our King is here!

This week we’ll see Jesus’ demonstration of power over Satan. Our King is unbreakable … even when Satan gives it his best shot.

In fact, by the end of our text, all Satan can do is slink away at Jesus’ command. In the end, everyone and everything is subject to Christ.

Today, we’ll talk about our unbreakable Savior. We’ll discuss:

the occasion of Jesus’ temptation

Satan’s 3-point strategy of temptation.

Finally, we’ll wrap up the lesson by seeing how Jesus triumphed over Satan.

4.1-2 - The Occasion of Temptation

➟ ➟ ➟ Matthew 4.1 - Jesus is led up by the Spirit … to be tempted.

➟ ➟ ➟ In Luke 4.1, Luke adds that as Jesus heads out into the wilderness He is full of the Holy Spirit.

➟ ➟ ➟ Mark 1.12 says the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. It’s like the text is saying the Spirit cast him forth … or threw him into the wilderness.

Finally, the decisive point in the war with Satan has come … which will culminate at the cross. This moment has been coming for a long time. The Godhead is ready to go and take care of business regarding Satan.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.2 - Jesus fasts for 40 days. For what?

meditation; quiet time; preparation.

A trial is coming. He realizes the perilous journey he is embarking upon that will lead to the cross.

➟ ➟ ➟ When Satan approached, 4.3, He was prepared, vigilant, and ready.

➟ ➟ ➟ Matthew 4.1 - tempted… in English has a negative connotation. We use the word to describe being drawn into sin.

In the original language, however, the word is neutral … and can be used negatively and positively. When the word is used for the positive, it identifies a time of testing.

For Jesus, this is that. God is giving him an opportunity to learn obedience.

Hebrews 5:8–9 CSB

8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

This is an opportunity to prove Jesus’ righteousness. When it’s all over, God will be vindicated and Satan will be defeated.

It’s important to understand that Satan is attacking the human side of Jesus here.

Jesus felt everything we do. He was sensitive emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Remember Hebrews 4.15 - tempted in all points as we are.

➟ ➟ ➟ Matthew 4.2 - he was hungry. In a weakened physical state, producing a greater susceptibility to temptation.

Jesus was tempted to the absolute limit of Satan’s ability to tempt.

Satan threw everything he had at him.

Jesus received the full amount possible with every temptation .. yet without sin.

4.3-9 - Satan’s Three Point Strategy

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.3-4 - Self-Satisfaction

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.3 - If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.

At first glance, we may wonder what the sin is. Certainly it’s not the consumption of food.

Satan’s goal is to get Jesus to take matters into his own hands and exercise his own power and authority. He wants to shatter Jesus’ absolute trust and submission to God who has directed him to this place for this purpose of doing battle with Satan. Satan wants Jesus to use his divine power to help himself.

If Satan can get Jesus to circumvent or modify the will of God, he will have succeeded.

Note “if” in 4.3. He begins by sowing seeds of doubt. Can he get Jesus to doubt the divine standard or the one behind the standard?

If you are the son of God.....

Why would God leave you in the wilderness when you have the power to provide for yourself?

You need to have your physical needs supplied. God is not doing His part to help you. You’re the Son of God, you shouldn’t be hungry.

Again the sin is not in eating food, it would have been in the failure to fully trust God.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.4 - Jesus’ answer: It is written, Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

It is better to obey & depend of God by waiting on His provision than to get our own satisfaction in this world through impatience and selfish provision in ways that make us compromise or disobey His word.

Grabbing or demanding what we think we deserve can lead to rebellion.

4.4 - life is not about food, rather it is about the most creative, energizing, sustaining power in the universe: God. He is our source of existence.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.5-7 - Testing God

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.5 - Jesus & Satan go to the holy city where they stand on the pinnacle of the temple.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.6a - If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.6b - the Satan adds to the temple by quoting Scripture.

If you won’t use your divine power to help yourself, let the Father use His power to help you. Let Him fulfill the Scripture.

By the way … doing something sensational like this was very common during Jesus time where false messiahs would do something eye-catching to garner attention and obtain more followers.

Sensationalism never works. It never satisfies. People always want more.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.7 - Jesus responds: It is also written: “Do not test the Lord your God.”

Jesus did not need to prove to Himself that the Father cared and protected Him.

Testing God is synonomous with doubting God … and causes a person to miss the mark.

Satan wanted to destroy Jesus’ perfection and holiness.

Taking risks to obey God’s will is one thing.... but taking a risk to fulfill our own ambitions or test God is not going to work out well for us.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.8-10 - False Worship

First, we’ve seen Satan try to convince Jesus on what He ought to do for Himself.

Then, what the Father ought to do for the Son....

Now, we’ll see what Satan can do for Jesus, if Jesus will only do what Satan wants.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.8 - Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain where they can see the entire world in all its vast treasures, marvelous cities, resources, and splendor.

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.9: I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.

He’s saying … why should you have to wait for what is rightfully yours? You can have it right now!

Why be a servant? Come on, skip the cross!

Here’s a chance to bypass the long, bitter, painful humiliating road to the cross.

This is how Satan approaches us. He tells us whatever is in the world can be ours if we’ll only bend our way to his.

He appeals to our lusts and fantasies.

He asks, Why go by such a high standard? ➟ ➟ ➟ What’s the use?

You’ll get what you want faster if you take this shortcut.

➟ ➟ ➟ You can have all you want.

And so he convinces us to set our heart on money, prestige, popularity, power, or selfish pursuits.

He tries to convince us to put us first and God last.

Satan offers what God offers .... only at a cheaper price. He pushes us to think the end justifies the means.

I’ll give you what you want … but you’re mine.

How many have gone down this road and found out the hard way?

Beware … the price is always more than he says and the promise is always less than the lies he sold us.

4.10-11 - Triumph

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.10-11a - Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. Then the devil left him.

This is where we gain inspiration for our own struggles as we observe Jesus’ faithfulness to the Father in action. He resisted … so can we.

You can resist.... just like Jesus. Will you?

➟ ➟ ➟ Here’s the promise:

James 4:7–8 CSB

7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

➟ ➟ ➟ Paul also wrote:

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

➟ ➟ ➟ 4.11b - God will come through. Jesus trusted in God’s provision. So can we.

Angels served Jesus. We would assume they brought Jesus food and resources.

This would have been a time of worship … where the angels ministered to him. Jesus was the obedient Son in whom God was well pleased.

As We Close

Here are three things to remember:

➟ ➟ ➟ Watch for temptation at the high-points of life.

Satan always wants to knock you down.

Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3 is certainly a highpoint. … then comes temptation. It’s a cycle we see many times:

David kills Goliath and then is hunted by Saul.

Israel escapes Egypt and then Pharaoh chases them.

Hezekiah is attacked by Sennecherib just after experiencing a solemn passover.

Paul gets to the third heaven, only to be struck with a thorn in the flesh.

➟ ➟ ➟ Be careful during times of weakness.

Jesus found himself in the wilderness. Alone. Tire. Hungry.

Satan comes to exploit the opportunity and seek advantage.

➟ ➟ ➟ Watch for the subtlety of temptation.

Satan constantly whispers … plants seeds of doubt.

Gets us to doubt who we are in Christ; God’s power, love.

He harasses us with fear.

He’s always questioning God. Don’t fall for it.

If Jesus succeeded, so can you! He blazed the trail by overcoming Satan. He is truly unbreakable!

➟ ➟ ➟ If you’re struggling with temptation and wrestling with defeat, help is here… Jesus is here today ready to help and come to your aid.

And those in this church stand here ready to come along side to serve.

It’s not about what you look like, where you come from, or what you’ve been into. It’s about where you are going from here, hand in hand with Jesus.