We can read of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in a few short verses in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The narrative of the temptation is very well known to many Christians and although it is famil-iar, it is good to review it again and again.
Let us just take some time to look a little deeper into the significance of the temptations that Jesus suffered in the wilderness so we can get a better appreciation of the sacrifice that He made in order to make it possible for mankind to overcome and receive salvation at last. Per-haps we will become more serious about the evil nature of even one sin when we understand what it cost the Son of God. Also, we are given hope in that the power He used in overcoming the temptations of the devil is available to us also.
“After the baptism of Jesus in Jordan He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. When He had come up out of the water, He bowed up-on Jordan’s banks and pleaded with the great Eternal for strength to endure the conflict with the fallen foe. The opening of the heavens and the descent of the excellent glory attested His divine character. The voice from the Father declared the close relation of Christ to His Infinite Majesty: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ The mission of Christ was soon to begin. But He must first withdraw from the busy scenes of life to a desolate wilderness for the express purpose of bearing the threefold test of temptation in behalf of those He had come to redeem.” –Confrontation, p. 9
During His earthly ministry, Jesus was beset by the devil on every hand. Everywhere He went, the temptations were constantly assailing Him. However, before He began His public ministry, He went into the desert to be alone with His Father and this is where the wilderness temptations took place.
TIME OUT WITH GOD
As we read in the quote above, before His ministry, Je-sus was to first “withdraw from the busy scenes of life to a desolate wilderness.”
In the Bible we read of other great men who withdrew from the busy scenes of life prior to their public ministry. Regarding the Apostle Paul, we read, “Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damas-cus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem.” Ga-latians 1:17–18. “Here, in the solitude of the desert, Paul had ample opportunity for quiet study and meditation. He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure work of repentance. He sought God with all his heart, resting not until he knew for a certainty that his repent-ance was accepted and his sin pardoned. He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his com-ing ministry. He emptied his soul of the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life, and received instruction from the Source of truth. Jesus communed with him and established him in the faith, bestowing upon him a rich measure of wisdom and grace.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 125–126
Also, “Moses spent forty years as a shepherd of flocks to prepare him to understand himself, and to purify himself by emptying himself so that the Lord could accomplish His will in him. . . . Moses was under training to God. He endured a long process of mental training to fit him to be leader of the armies of Israel.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 99
Enoch was a preacher of righteousness in a time when evil was rampant in the earth and there was little righteousness to be found. It was a difficult task, but he bravely went forward to bring light into the darkness. He, too, made sure he took time alone with God. “In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly main-tained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself, at certain periods, from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruc-tion and example, he would withdraw, to spend a sea-son in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 86–87
John the Baptist was known as the voice in the wilder-ness. He spent much of his early life in solitude. “John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, received his early training from his parents. The greater portion of his life was spent in the wilderness. . . . It was John’s choice to forego the enjoyments and luxuries of city life for the stern discipline of the wilderness. Here his surroundings were favorable to habits of simplicity and self-denial. Uninterrupted by the clamor of the world, he could here study the lessons of nature, of revelation, and of provi-dence.” –The Adventist Home, p. 133
And so, Jesus, also, took time out in solitude before His earthly ministry. Although John the disciple tried to fol-low Him, Jesus needed this time alone. “John, one of the new disciples, had searched for Christ and had found Him in His humiliation, emaciated, and bearing the marks of great physical and mental distress. Jesus, un-willing that John should witness His humiliation, had gently yet firmly dismissed him from His presence. He wished to be alone; no human eye must behold His ago-ny, no human heart be called out in sympathy with His distress.” –Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 99
All co-workers with Christ need time out and alone in order to more effectively work for the Master. Jesus is our great example and it would do well to follow His footsteps.
THE TEMPTATIONS
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15–16
In this Bible verse, specifically, verse 16, we see the temptations of Jesus summarized. These are the main categories of all temptations that mankind has to face.
First temptation: “And when the tempter came to Him,
he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3.The first tempta-tion that Jesus faced in the wilderness is under the cate-gory of “lust of the flesh.” Both appetite and uncon-trolled passions are described here. It all begins with appetite.
One may ask, why did Jesus need to fast for forty days? It is often difficult to fast only one day. For some, the only time they fast is the one day a year during the Week of Prayer, and even this is a difficult endeavour for them. Jesus fasted this long because the power of appetite has a stronghold on mankind. This is what it took to break the power of appetite. “The length of this fast is the strongest evidence of the great sinfulness of debased appetite and the power it has upon the human family.” –Confrontation, p. 37
“Christ was our example in all things. As we see His hu-miliation in the long trial and fast in the wilderness to overcome the temptations of appetite in our behalf, we are to take this lesson home to ourselves when we are tempted. If the power of appetite is so strong upon the human family, and its indulgence so fearful that the Son of God subjected Himself to such a test, how important that we feel the necessity of having appetite under the control of reason. Our Saviour fasted nearly six weeks, that He might gain for man the victory upon the point of appetite. How can professed Christians with an enlight-ened conscience, and Christ before them as their pattern, yield to the indulgence of those appetites which have an enervating influence upon the mind and heart? It is a painful fact that habits of self-gratification at the expense of health, and the weakening of moral power, is holding in the bonds of slavery at the present time a large share of the Christian world.” –The Review and Herald, September 1, 1874
Ask yourself how seriously you adhere to the laws of appetite? Is one sinful indulgence here and there ac-ceptable? Will God overlook the one small indulgence? When tempted to indulge your appetite with something you know is not good for you think of the long fast of Jesus in the wilderness.
And what about uncontrolled passions? Perverted appe-tite leads to perverted passions. “The world had become so corrupt through indulgence of appetite and debased passion in the days of Noah that God destroyed its in-habitants by the waters of the Flood. And as men again multiplied upon the earth the indulgence in wine to in-toxication perverted the senses and prepared the way for excessive meat eating and the strengthening of the animal passions.” –Confrontation, p. 24
“As in his human strength man could not resist the power of Satan’s temptations, Jesus volunteered to undertake the work and to bear the burden for man, and overcome the power of appetite in his behalf. In man’s behalf He must show self-denial, perseverance, and firmness of principle paramount to the gnawing pangs of hunger. He must show a power of control stronger than hunger and even death.” –Confrontation, p. 37. Although very hungry, Jesus overcame and resist-ed the enemy’s temptation.
Second Temptation: “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6. Under this temptation falls the idea that we can sin with no consequences and it is summarized by the words, “the pride of life.” We are God’s creatures which He created and He loves us very much. Some believe we are so valuable to Him, that no matter what we do, He will never destroy us. So people continue in a lifestyle of sin and their churches tell them they do not need to overcome sin. Even in God’s church, there are those who believe that a small sin here and there is okay, as long as you repent of it later. We will continue sinning until Jesus comes, so do not even bother trying to overcome. One small sin, one small evil thought, one small indulgence, will keep us out of favour with God and out of heaven. Sadly, one day the Lord will, “do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. He makes a call for repentance. However the choice is ours whether we want to surrender every little sin, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:31–32
We call this presumption. We presume on the good-ness of God and continue to live a life in opposition to His expressed will, yet expect His blessings. “The sin of presumption lies close beside the virtue of perfect faith and confidence in God. Satan flattered himself that he could take advantage of the humanity of Christ to urge Him over the line of trust to presumption. Upon this point many souls are wrecked. Satan tried to deceive Christ through flattery.” –Confrontation, p. 48
Every sin has its consequences. The one example that is very clear is the fact that there is so much illness in the world and much of it is a result of indulgence of appetite and passions. There are other sins, also, that lead to unpleasant consequences when the sin is discov-ered, such as sins of adultery or fraud. People indulge in sin and pray to the Lord to deliver them from its con-sequences. They love their sin as did Cain and Esau, but do not like the consequences.
“Christ came off victor in the second temptation. He manifested perfect confidence and trust in His Father during His severe conflict with the powerful foe. Our Redeemer, in the victory here gained, has left man a perfect pattern, showing him that his only safety is in firm trust and unwavering confidence in God in all trials and perils. He refused to presume upon the mercy of His Father by placing Himself in peril that would make it necessary for His heavenly Father to display His power to save Him from danger.” –Confrontation, p. 49
Third Temptation: “The devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8–9
This sin can be summarized by “the lust of the eyes”. Satan shows people the wonders of the world; the glitter; the glory; and says that all this is yours if you bow down to me. Young people are in awe of the glam-our of the world. Sadly, even Christian young people who have grown up in the faith have fallen into Satan’s snares. They compare their lifestyle of self-denial to the self-indulgence of the world and they are enraptured. They leave the straight and narrow pathway to join the hilarity they see on the broad road. Few ever find their way back. Satan has been very successful by the use of the media, such as TV, Internet and social media. It is all there to please the eyes. Satan has a completely differ-ent perspective than does the Son of God.
“As Satan saw them, they possessed great external grandeur. But Christ saw them in a different aspect, just as they were—earthly dominions under the power of a tyrant. He saw humanity full of woe, suffering under the oppressive power of Satan. He saw the earth de-filed by hatred, revenge, malice, lust, and murder. He saw fiends in the possession of the bodies and souls of men.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1083
“This last temptation was the most alluring of the three. Satan knew that Christ’s life must be one of sor-row, hardship, and conflict. And he thought he could take advantage of this fact to bribe Christ to yield His integrity. . . . He bore Jesus to the top of an exceeding high mountain, and then in a panoramic view present-ed before Him all the kingdoms of the world that had been so long under his dominion, and offered them to Him in one great gift. He told Christ that He could come into possession of all these kingdoms without suffering or peril. Satan promises to yield his scepter and domin-ion, and to make Christ the rightful Ruler, for one favor from Him. All he requires in return for making over to Him the kingdoms of the world that day presented be-fore Him, is that Christ shall do him homage as to a su-perior.
“The eye of Jesus for a moment rested upon the glory presented before Him; but He turned away and refused to look upon the entrancing spectacle. He would not endanger His steadfast integrity by dallying with the tempter.” –Confrontation, p. 52
We must do as Jesus did. When Satan presents all the alluring amusements of the world before our eyes, we need to look away. We need to turn away and turn to Jesus. Do not let your eyes linger on the scenes or the temptation will turn into lustful desire. By the grace of God only, can we overcome. We must turn away and turn to Jesus and the temptation can be resisted.
JESUS OVERCAME
This was no simple warfare. “The warfare with the power of darkness had been long and intensely trying to Christ’s human nature in His weak and suffering con-dition. . . .The cost of the redemption of the race can never be fully realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer, by the throne of God.” –Confrontation, p. 55
Jesus overcame and you also can overcome each and every sin.
“He withstood the temptation, through the power that many may command. He laid hold on the throne of God, and there is not a man or woman, who may not have access to the same help through faith in God. Man may become a partaker of the divine nature; not a soul lives who may not summon the aid of heaven in temptation and trial. Christ came to reveal the source of His power, that man might never rely on his unaided human capabilities.
“Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They must agonize on their knees before God for divine power.” –The Review and Herald, February 18, 1890
“We have characters to form here. God will test us and prove us by placing us in positions to develop the most enduring strength, purity, and nobility of soul, with perfect patience on our part, and entire trust in a cruci-fied Saviour. We shall meet with reverses, affliction, and severe trials, for these are God’s tests. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and purge His people as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” –Confrontation, p. 93
“There is no safety for any man, young or old, unless he feels the necessity of seeking God for counsel at every step. Those only who maintain close communion with God will learn to place His estimate upon men, to rev-erence the pure, the good, the humble, and the meek. . . .The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. No matter how severe the pressure brought to bear upon you, sin is your own act. The seat of the difficulty is the unrenewed heart.
“In view of the dangers of this time, shall not we, as God’s commandment-keeping people, put away from among us all sin, all iniquity, all perverseness?” –The Adventist Home, p. 331
There is hope in Christ. May God help us to take seri-ously the time in which we are living in. It is a solemn time; a time to put away all sin. It can be done with the help of Christ.
Think seriously about what Jesus suffered for you in the wilderness of temptation. Do you expect less? No; it is time to surrender our entire beings, body, soul and spirit to the service of the Lord. Amen.
Wendy Eaton