Dr. Lawrence Butler
The Bridge Church, Pembroke
We have concluded our presentation of the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Despite the somewhat disjointed reading to which you have been subjected, I trust that you have learned something about this experience of Christ. Before moving on to another topic, there are a few things that I feel are important for us to consider and perhaps clarify.
The first temptation was for Christ to use His miraculous power for His own sustenance and comfort. Turn stones into bread and relieve your hunger, Satan says. But Jesus had taken human nature upon Himself, to live under human conditions, and He simply could not deliver Himself from the dangers and difficulties of human existence by using His divine power. It must be said later, “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” (Heb. 4:11). Just as He was victorious in human flesh, so are we through His grace.
The second temptation was to win acceptance of humans by some astounding feat. Jesus was now thirty years old and had waited a long time to be proclaimed as Christ to the people He came to save. It certainly seemed that something unexpected, unusual and miraculous would push Him to the forefront of people’s awareness of Him. Leap from the pinnacle of the temple, have angels catch you so that you are unharmed, and everyone will hear about this whispers the devil. This was an easy way to win acclaim, especially compared to tedious teaching that would soon be flowing from the Master’s lips. The miracles would come, but only when the necessities of men demanded them, and could be performed as loving consideration by Christ. The Father’s work must never be turned into some type of sideshow, nor abused to win fame for some deceiver.
The third temptation was to be an earthly king, accepting the gift of Satan as he offered the kingdoms of this world. No doubt Jesus felt within Himself the power to reform this world, to govern well, and to stop men from destroying themselves.
Satan again whispers you can do this, you can make things better for people, saving lives, stopping abuse and feeding the hungry. God’s people are just waiting and longing for the Messiah to come and throw off the Roman yoke. Instead, Christ saw something better, a future for humans without the bondage of sin! Jesus resisted all temptation, and rebuked Satan with the Word of God. Listen to the Lord, turn away from sinful temptations, and do as Jesus – resist the devil!