In this video, we will discuss the temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness.
Baptism and the Spirit
You may recall that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. After Jesus emerged from the water, God proclaimed:
“This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
Additionally, the Spirit descended on Jesus. We are told in John’s gospel (John 3:34) that Jesus was not given a measure, or portion of the Holy Spirit, but rather without limit. This marks an important development in the life of Jesus, as he now is fully capable of performing all miracles.
Luke’s gospel tells us that when Jesus left the Jordan, where he was baptized, he was “full of the Holy Spirit.”
Driven into the wilderness
Immediately, we are told, he is “driven” into the wilderness. In fact, we are told that the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He was there 40 days and nights, not eating or drinking. It is important to note that the Spirit led the temptations of Jesus. They were not the creation of a supernatural being, or even another person. This was a time for Jesus to learn obedience by confronting his own will, and subjecting it to his Father’s.
Before we begin looking at the temptation of Jesus, we need to remind ourselves that Jesus was “tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.” His temptations to sin were just like ours. He experienced the pull of the flesh. We will see in the three temptations that are named, the main struggles that Jesus would face were about using the Spirit for personal gain, glory, and exaltation.
So, if Jesus were tempted by an external force, one that had an intimate discussion with him, this would be far different than what we experience with our temptation to sin. We suggest that the temptations of Jesus are his own internal struggles against the flesh. Let’s look at each.
First temptation: stones into bread
The first temptation is to turn the stones into bread. We are told that Jesus was hungry, not having eaten for more than a month. His temptation was associated with the knowledge that he now possessed the power to turn these rounded stones in the wilderness into bread that could nourish him. This was a new temptation for Jesus, having now been given the Spirit without measure. Jesus answered the temptation by quoting from Deuteronomy: “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4)
Jesus used the Scriptures to shape and transform his mind. Jesus thought back to the Law of Moses. We can also use principles in the Bible to govern our lives. Jesus did not need an external tempter to imagine the stones being bread. It was a reasonable thought of a man who now had the power to end his hunger with a miracle.
Second temptation: all the kingdoms
The second temptation is where he is taken to “a very high mountain” and shown all the kingdoms of the world in a moment. This is the plainest example of where this is not a literal event, but rather one of the temptations that Jesus worked though in his own mind. There is no mountain that is high enough for all the kingdoms of the world to be seen at once—it’s physically impossible. But as Jesus worked through the gift of the Holy Spirit, he understood that there would be times where he would be tempted to introduce his kingdom right away, to accept the accolades and exaltation of the crowds. However, once again Jesus goes back to Deuteronomy, noting that all worship should be of God alone.
Third temptation: the temple pinnacle
The third temptation is said to be in Jerusalem, where he is told that he could cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple, but the angels would be there to bear him up. Note that the “Satan” actually quotes Scripture in this temptation, quoting Psalm 91. This appears to be a more difficult and subtle temptation. Could he justify using the Spirit to prove he was the Son of God to those who did not believe? Psalm 91 seemed to indicate this. But Jesus responds with another citation from Deuteronomy, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Was there a supernatural adversary?
So, was there a supernatural adversary, or Satan, that was doing this to Jesus? Did he get escorted to an exceedingly high mountain, or taken to the temple pinnacle in Jerusalem? Mark’s gospel makes it clear that the full 40-day period was in the wilderness. The visions of Jerusalem and a high mountain were created in the mind of the Lord.
What “Satan” means
Satan is a term that is used often in the Bible. It simply means “an opponent,” or “an adversary.” There is a Satan in the book of Job that reasons with God. Satan brings about calamities on Job, but none of them are outside the control of God. Satan is often used as a symbol of sin. In Revelation 20, Satan is included with other symbols of sin, to include the dragon, the old serpent, and the Devil. All of these symbols are about to be destroyed in Revelation 20 at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Jesus on the earth. We learn at the end of Revelation 20 that the final destruction of the dragon, serpent, devil and Satan is realized when sin and death are finally destroyed.
Why these temptations matter
How are these temptations in the wilderness relevant? Why would the Spirit want Jesus to experience these trials? Each of these three temptations would be extremely germane, and preparatory to the Lord as he began his ministry. There would be many times when he could choose to use the Holy Spirit to provide for his own needs. But instead, Jesus learned to rely on his Father for all care and sustenance. Several times crowds were so impressed with his miracles and his preaching that they wanted to make him king. Jesus resisted this, realizing that his kingdom was not of this world. His glory and exaltation will be when he returns to the earth and sets up the everlasting Kingdom of God. Finally, Jesus had times when unbelievers demanded him to prove his authenticity, and he could have used a miracle to silence them. For example, when Jesus was on the cross, mockers cried out for Jesus to come down from the cross, and then they would believe. But Jesus had already prepared his mind for this, and would not misuse the Spirit for this purpose.
Where temptation comes from
The Bible is clear where temptation comes from.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death
— James 1:13–15 (ESV)
Gethsemane and our example
We understand the temptation in the wilderness to be an important progression in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. During his ministry, he would struggle with the impulses we all would have to use the powerful Spirit in ways that did not bring glory to God. He overcame these temptations by turning to the word of God, and citing holy principles. None of these temptations were greater than when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of his betrayal. He prayed earnestly, and was in great sorrow. But ultimately, he had the faith required to put his Father’s will above his own.
In our own temptations, which happen within our own hearts, we too would do well to turn to the instruction of Scripture, to put the will of God above our own. Jesus did this as our example.