Follow Jesus

Luke 4:1-2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 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.
 
THIS is the first of five lessons on the devil confronting Jesus in the Judean desert. This cosmic battle is the subject of many teachings and sermons. Even a casual Christian has likely heard several teachings on Jesus’ triumph over evil here.
    The first fact to consider is the Holy Spirit’s role in Jesus’ ministry. You remember John had baptized Jesus with water. Then during the water baptism, Jesus received the power and God’s authority through the Spirt: Luke 3:22 the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  
    The Holy Trinity is at work. The Father has ordained the plan. The Spirit empowers the plan. The Son will work the plan. From this moment, each thing Jesus does until he returns to heaven will be done to affirm this Trinitarian relationship. Time and again, Jesus affirms he is doing his Father’s will. He can do this only in the Spirit’s anointing on him. (Luke 4:18-19)
    Thus, the Spirit sends Jesus into the desert to undergo a human-life-threatening trial. Jesus will suffer severe thirst and hunger. He will be scorched with the desert sun. Our Lord will suffer. And he will endure. Why?
    There are two reasons for Jesus’ suffering. First, suffering is essential to fulfill Jesus’ ministry. We think of Jesus’ only suffering was at the cross. But the Father gave him other sufferings to demonstrate he is our sacrificing, suffering Savior. Another suffering, for example, occurs in Luke 4 when the synagogue leaders in Nazareth threaten to kill Jesus (Luke 4:29). The Hebrews’ author explains Jesus’ suffering: Hebrews 2:10 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
    In this desert suffering, our Lord would know the profound misery of the human flesh. He would exhibit humility and submission to God’s Word to obey the Father, to teach us the power of obedience.
    This obedience is the second reason for the desert suffering. As he resists the devil, Jesus teaches us in truth that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). In Jesus’ miserable, deprived condition, Satan cannot persuade Jesus to move even the smallest degree from God’s Word. This is in eternal contrast to Adam and Eve. Satan’s slightest question to the first couple amid the plenty of Paradise caused them to doubt God’s Word. Their prideful disobedience opened the door for death into God’s creation. In contrast, Jesus’ perfect obedience in suffering hunger and thirst would open the door for life into God’s creation.
    Thus, Jesus becomes the new Adam. Romans 5:14-15 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Underline is mine.)
    Spirit-empowered, Word-enriched, Jesus remained sinless. As you pray, “Lead us (me) not into temptation, but deliver us (me) from the evil one.” (Mathew 6:13 NIV) know that you need the Spirit and the Word to turn away Satan as did Jesus. He is your Good Shepherd, who has shown you the way to righteous living with God. Be as Jesus. Follow his example, even in trials.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for demonstrating the way to resist the devil. In the Spirit’s power I pray, amen.