Tempted as we are

Introduction

Saving Private Ryan - a pathetic picture of our inability to rise to an impossible obligation

Matthew 19:26 RVR60

Y mirándolos Jesús, les dijo: Para los hombres esto es imposible; mas para Dios todo es posible.

Jesus succeeded where we, time and again, fail miserably. We throw ourselves not on our own merits, but on the merits perfectly accomplished by Jesus Christ.

This morning we will look at the accounts of our Lord’s temptation in order to more fully appreciate his total victory and our complete defeat.

Let’s begin by giving some background to more fully understand Mark’s brief account.

The Markan Account

Mark’s gospel is though to be the oldest of the first gospels. It is characterized by its brevity. If you’ll notice in our text this morning there is one adverb “immediately” that will occur all throughout the gospel. We saw it 1:10, and we find it again in 1:12. You can also see it in 1:18, 1:20, 1:21, 1:23 - “immediately.” This is the tenor of Mark’s gospel. Quick and to the point.

Many scholars believe that the reason for this hurried approach is the oral nature of the gospel. Mark’s gospel was written on the basis of the oral teachings about Christ and thus is structured in outline form and uses key words and phrases as mnemonic devices that would aid in its memorization.

Even though Mark’s account of the first temptation of Christ is abbreviated in comparison to the accounts of Matthew and Luke, that does not mean that it is unimportant.

The Gospel of Mark can be divided into roughly two parts. The first part, Mark 1-8, establishes the fact of Christ’s messianic character. This part culminates with Peter’s confession in Mark 8:29. The second part of the gospel describes the nature of Christ’s messianic character. It is a messianic role of suffering.

Mark’s temptation account is thus crucial to the purpose of the first part of the gospel. Indeed, it is a fundamental piece of the lead up to Christ’s public ministry that includes: 1) John’s preparation, 2) Jesus’ baptism, 3) the Father’s approval, and 4) the first gospel proclamation.

How to Read the Temptation Narrative

Oftentimes we approach the temptation account in the gospels as a model or an example of how we are to face temptation. We read of how Jesus responds to the cunning temptations of the devil and immediately think about our own temptations.

Christ is our example and we are to imitate him.

1 Corinthians 11:1 RVR60

Sed imitadores de mí, así como yo de Cristo.

Yet even so, Christ is so much more than our example.

1 Corinthians 1:30 RVR60

Mas por él estáis vosotros en Cristo Jesús, el cual nos ha sido hecho por Dios sabiduría, justificación, santificación y redención;

Christ was made for us wisdom, justification, sanctification and redemption. We rely on Christ for these things and not on ourselves.

The temptation narrative is not a model for us to follow rather it is showing us how Christ becomes our wisdom, our justification, our sanctification and our redemption.

Christ succeeded at the exact point where we failed. Christ was victorious where we were defeated. The path to victory in temptation is not the path of following Christ’s example. The path to victory is the path of throwing ourselves and clothing ourselves with the victory that Christ has already obtained.

So, let’s look more closely at this account to see how Christ’s victory over temptation is our only comfort.

The Temptations of Christ

The author of Hebrews tells us that our Lord was tempted in all and tempted as we are.

Hebrews 4:15 RVR60

Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que fue tentado en todo según nuestra semejanza, pero sin pecado.

Our Lord, the author of Hebrews tells us, is capable of identifying with our weakness and our imperfection; he is capable of understanding the strength and impetus of the temptations that we face. Christ was tempted in all things. The apostle John tells us what the world’s temptations are:

1 John 2:16 RVR60

Porque todo lo que hay en el mundo, los deseos de la carne, los deseos de los ojos, y la vanagloria de la vida, no proviene del Padre, sino del mundo.

Jesus Christ was tempted in all these things: the lust of the flesh, the desires of the eye and the pride of life. Before looking at the three temptations themselves registered for us in Matthew account, let’s consider the context of the temptation and the identification of the tempter.

The context of the temptation

Our Lord’s temptation comes immediately after the voice of the Father came down heaven and said

Mark 1:11 RVR60

Y vino una voz de los cielos que decía: Tú eres mi Hijo amado; en ti tengo complacencia.

What an honor and place of privilege for our Lord in that moment. To hear the voice of God almighty approvingly bestow his words of love and satisfaction upon him. But where there is great honor there is also great humbling.

Second, notice that the devil did not make his way to Jesus nor did Jesus stumble into temptation. Mark tells us that the Spirit drove him to the place of temptation, to the wilderness. The greek word here is ekballa - it is a forceful word. Only Mark uses it to describe the Spirit’s involvement in the temptation of our Lord. The temptation of Jesus is God’s doing.

Third, notice the place of temptation - the wilderness. Mark paints a more vivid picture than the other evangelists telling us that Jesus was in the wilderness and with the wild animals.

Mark 1:13 RVR60

Y estuvo allí en el desierto cuarenta días, y era tentado por Satanás, y estaba con las fieras; y los ángeles le servían.

Fourth, notice the length and circumstance of the temptation. Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days, and according to Matthew’s account he fasted that entire time.

Matthew 4:2 RVR60

Y después de haber ayunado cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, tuvo hambre.

Christ’s temptation resonates and echoes earlier themes in the history of redemption. The place of temptation - the wilderness - and the duration - forty days - remind us of Israel in the desert.

Christ’s temptation is similar to the temptation of the Israelites in the desert. God had heard the cries of Israel and liberated them from the house of bondage - a place of great honor. But then he led them to the wilderness on the other side of the Red Sea - a place of great humbling. The Israelites remained in the desert for 40 years. Christ was in the wilderness for 40 days. The Israelites in the desert were hungry just as Christ was hungry. And where the Israelites failed, Christ succeeded.

But there is another parallel in view here. It is the parallel with Adam. In this parallel we see a marked contrast. Adam was in paradise, but Jesus was in the desert. Adam had food everywhere he looked, but Jesus was starving. Adam had all the animals under his command, but Jesus was faced down by wild animals. Notwithstanding all of his advantages, Adam failed. Notwithstanding all of his disadvantages, Jesus succeeded.

Application

We are often prone to identify our failings with our surroundings. We view sin primarily as a sociological problem. If only my circumstances were different, then I would not succumb to these temptations. If my boss would just pay me what I deserve, I wouldn’t be tempted to up charge the client. If my wife would be more loving, I wouldn’t be tempted to experiment with other women. But sin is not just a sociological problem, it is fundamentally a personal problem. Do you see why we need the Lord as our wisdom, our justification, our sanctification and our redemption? Jesus succeeded where we constantly and consistently fail.

The identity of the tempter

Mark identifies the tempter only as Satan. Matthew, however, uses three different words to describe the tempter: the tempter (4:3), the devil (4:5), and Satan (4:9).

To tempt is to entice. The devil entices us by making deadly sins look so attractive. The devil tells us, it’s good for you; you will enjoy it. Sin is made to look to us so good, so right, so wise.

The word devil means accuser. The devil entices us to sin and then turns around and accuses us. How could you do such a thing? Look at you now? What will your father think of you?

The word Satan means adversary. The devil is our adversary. He is the enemy of our souls. His goal is our destruction. His purpose is to ruin you for eternity.

This is the tempter that we face and it is the tempter that Christ faced in the wilderness - an adversary, an accuser and a tempter.

Application

We often think of the devil as some ugly, horned creature out of a fairy tale book. And as Reformed Christians we raise an eyebrow when we here someone talking about demons and the devil. But even so, the Biblical doctrine is clear - there is an adversary whose is bent on your eternal destruction. And your only hope, your only remedy is to take up the whole armor of God

Ephesians 6:14–17 RVR60

Estad, pues, firmes, ceñidos vuestros lomos con la verdad, y vestidos con la coraza de justicia,y calzados los pies con el apresto del evangelio de la paz.Sobre todo, tomad el escudo de la fe, con que podáis apagar todos los dardos de fuego del maligno.Y tomad el yelmo de la salvación, y la espada del Espíritu, que es la palabra de Dios;

The Temptations

Lust of the flesh

Christ was starving in the wilderness. He had not eaten for forty days. His flesh was crying out for food, and at the moment the tempter comes and tells him - turn these stones into bread. How can that be wrong?

But Christ does not succumb to the temptation. Instead he quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 - man shall not live by bread alone. You see the devil is telling Jesus not to trust in God. Take matters into your own hands - fend for yourself.

We often give in to the lusts of the flesh - our sustenance, our comfort, our survival - by depending on ourselves rather than depending on God.

The pride of life

The devil then takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and tells him to jump off and show everyone that he is truly the Son of God. You can do it - you know that angels will come to rescue you. Take pride in yourself and in who you are. But Jesus again responds quoting Dueteronomy 6:16 - you shall not tempt the Lord your God.

We often give way to the pride of life - our dignity, our reputation - by doing not what God wants but what we want. The theology of name it and claim it teaches that all we have to do is say what we want it will be ours. All we need to do is to lay hold of our position of children of the king and live that way. This is a deadly lie and one that drives us away from Christ and toward the pride of life.

The desire of the eye

Finally, the devil tempts Jesus by taking him to the summit of a high mountain and telling him everything you see can be yours. All you have to do is worship me. Jesus again quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 - it is the Lord your God that you shall fear and Him only that you shall serve.

The devil is telling Jesus that there is another way. You don’t have to go to the cross. You don’t have to follow the path of suffering. All of this can be yours simply by worshipping me.

We also want to go our way. We don’t want to follow the path of suffering; we want the easy way, the comfortable way. Some Bible teachers would like us to believe that there is the easy way. We don’t need to have Jesus as Lord as long as we have him as Savior. All we need to do is to say the prayer of the believer. No need to take up our cross and follow him. No need to be uncomfortable in the world. You can be a carnal Christian and still make it to heaven - and who knows, maybe some day you will reach that higher level and be able to have Christ as Lord also.

Conclusion

How will you ever succeed? How will you ever overcome the lust of the flesh, the desire of the eye and the pride of life? How will you ever earn it? The answer is: you can’t. Only Christ can do this. And he does it with such perfection, with such precision that he becomes our wisdom, our justification, our sanctification and our redemption.

Brother and sister, where is your trust this morning? Are you trusting yourself to make good on that great salvation that Jesus has purchased for us? Are you trusting in your own ability to quote Scripture and to beat the devil down? Or are throwing yourself on Christ - the one perfect mediator, our great high priest, who was tempted in every way like us but without sin? Let’s throw ourselves on Christ this morning and recognize that our only victory is his victory.