Objective of this lesson: to note that Jesus went to the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted; to deepen our understanding of Jesus' temptations.
Even God's son went to the wilderness. Matthew, Mark (Mark 1;12), and Luke (Luke 4:1,2) [John does not write about Jesus' wilderness temptations] indicate Jesus' wilderness temptations experience followed Jesus' baptism. The wilderness temptations occurred after a forty day period of fasting. Jesus' temptations were purposeful in God's intent. Jesus' was guided into the wilderness by the Spirit. Do not fail to notice that even though the temptations arose from Satan, God used Satan's temptations for His purpose because of Jesus' heart decisions and response. God was able to use Satan's temptations to achieve His purposes because Jesus was not deceived by Satan. Instead of rebelling against God, Jesus relied on God.
Satan's uses God's work to deceive and thereby achieve his purposes (Genesis 3:1-7 is an example). God also uses Satan's initiatives to achieve His purposes. Satan deceives in an attempt to pervert and destroy. God uses Satan's attempt to deceive through temptations to rescue and to draw the tempted to Himself. Satan's seeks to destroy. God seeks to rescue. Satan seeks evil for humans. God seeks good for humans. God is never an enemy to those who seek His will.
Note Jesus was temptable. Do not confuse temptation with sin. Do not confuse appeal with rebellion. To be tempted is to be physically human. Because a human feels a sense of appeal when presented with opportunity to rebel against God does not mean he/she has sinned--unless the rebellion occurs. Two thoughts to keep in mind are presented by James 1:12-18 and the numerous references to God's working through trials [hardships] such as Deuteronomy 8:2 and 1 Peter 4:12. James emphasizes that God never seeks our failure. Because God can use our temptations for His purposes does not mean that God is the origin of the temptation. The source of human temptation is the godless desires of human existence. References such as Deuteronomy 8:2 and 1 Peter 4:12 stress the fact that temptation provides humans a critical opportunity for self-revelation. Faith in God is not a mere mental affirmation, but a whole-person commitment. We must reveal ourselves to God just as God must reveal Himself to us. God knows us as soon as we reveal our choices, but our heart decisions in times of stress [not just our flattering words in unstressful times!] reveal us. To say we trust God is important. To show we trust God is even more important. Hardships created by moments of stressful temptation are opportunities to show/reveal trust in God.
Understanding that Jesus was truly human is essential. Jesus will not be accepted as our human example if he did not endure our human struggles. Jesus succeeded where we fail. Therefore he is genuinely qualified to rescue, guide, and lead rescue us. Remember Hebrews 4:15.
Jesus was truly human. His temptations revealed his heart just as our temptations reveal our heart. Satan's suggestions had appeal to him. However, loyalty to God was more important to him. If you would like to do additional thinking about Jesus' humanity, read John 4:4-8, 31-33; Philippians 2:5-8; and Hebrews 5:7-9. In John 4:4-8, 31-33 note the acknowledgment of Jesus' weariness and hunger. Also note the occasion with the Samaritan woman happened because Jesus was thirsty. In Philippians 2:5-8 note the fact that Jesus entered his earthly experience by emptying himself. In Hebrews 5:7-9 note the fact that Jesus learned obedience. The reason Jesus can genuinely relate to us in our lives and struggles is because he endured the struggles of physical existence. The risen one who represents us before God truly shared our experience! (Hebrews 4:14-16) His life experiences are relevant in guiding us in "the way" (John 14:6) to God because Jesus revealed in his life, his actions, and his interactions with people how God would conduct Himself were He human. A Christian can relate to God's ways even though the Christian is human because Jesus revealed to the Christian God's ways in his values, his priorities, his emotions, his conduct, and his service to other humans. Literally, we know God's ways because Jesus the human revealed God's ways to us.
The purpose of Judaism's high priest was to represent a sinful, imperfect people to a sinless, perfect God [note in Leviticus that Aaron had to atone for his sins before he represented sinful Israel to God]. Jesus can represent us to God only if he understands us [remember Hebrews 2:17 and 4:15]. He understands us because he shared our humanity.
Suggested thought: (1) Jesus' wilderness temptations occurred to challenge Jesus to decide from the beginning of his ministry who he was. It is extremely important for the person who commits to God's purposes to know he/she belongs to God. God can claim the person, but the person must also devote himself/herself to God in all human circumstances--stressful times as well as times of ease. (2) Jesus' wilderness temptations occurred to challenge Jesus to decide and know what his priorities were. Human life must be lived with an understanding of what is important. Life must not become a series of reactions to circumstances. Life must be a series of decisions. Christian decisions must be based on a realization of what is important.
The man or woman who follows God must be able to answer [with understanding] two questions: (1) Who am I? (2) What are my priorities? Jesus was no exception. He needed a clear understanding of who he was and what his priorities were. His reaction to his wilderness temptations declared (1) he knew who he was and (2) he knew his priorities.
Please note the kinds of temptation Jesus endured in the wilderness. (1) The first dealt with physical need, literally an endurance or survival need. Jesus responded with the understanding that something more important than physical, survival needs existed. His first priority was not addressing physical need or physical survival.
Jesus declared physical need is not more important than loyalty to God, the Great Provider. The Sovereign will see that His will is successfully done.
(2) The second dealt with the meaning of trusting God. The foundation question regarding trusting God is this: does God serve you, or do you serve God? Or, must God demonstrate Himself to me if I am to serve Him? For those who serve God, the answer to each of those questions is this: "God has nothing to prove to me. I serve Him. He does not serve me." In ancient times Job responded to severe adversity by getting up from his grief, tearing his robe [an expression of anguish], shaving his head [a declaration of humility], falling to the ground [an additional expression of humility], and worshipping God (Job 1:20). Even in times of grief and anguish, Job reverenced God. In the midst of false accusations and misery, he said, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him." Though Job thought God allowed things to happen to him unfairly, never did he turn against God. In Job's understanding, God was always God, and Job was never God.
Trusting God means that God does not have to prove Himself to the person of faith. See Daniel 3:1-18 and especially note verses 17, 18.
(3) The third was the deceitful offer to provide Jesus an opportunity to achieve his God-given mission in a quick, painless manner which made self-sacrifice unnecessary. Jesus came to make the rule of God (kingdom of heaven, kingdom of God) a reality thus fulfilling God's promise in Genesis 12:3. Satan said, "I will let you rule the world immediately! No waiting! No ministry! No sacrifice! No pain! You can achieve God's purpose immediately through my short-cut!" Jesus declared there was much more involved than achieving the "visible" result of his mission. Only God is God! Only God rightfully is worshipped!
Jesus understood it is impossible to achieve God's purpose by worshipping something or someone other than God. To worship something or someone other than God is to insult God in the highest manner possible! See Exodus 32:4,8-10. Note God's anger at Israel's enormous insult when they, through worship, attributed an accomplishment of God to something that was not God!
Jesus refuted each of Satan's suggestions by quoting scripture. Jesus did not respond to Satan just by selecting a scripture he happened to know and reciting it! The setting and context of each quotation is extremely important! It was not just the fact that Jesus quoted a scripture-- remember in Matthew 4:6 Satan quoted scripture! Jesus correctly understood the meaning of what he quoted. It was understanding the correct meaning of the quotation that refuted Satan's suggestion. Because Jesus understood the meaning of scripture, he was not deceived.
Stress the importance of understanding the meaning of the scripture quoted! God's power comes through understanding, not merely through quoting. Jesus quoted, but he understood what he quoted. What he quoted was truly relevant to his immediate temptation.
Thought and Discussion Questions
Those temptations occurred after Jesus was baptized and spent a 40 day period fasting.
Temptation deals with the appeal of evil. Sin deals with our conscious choice to rebel against God. To feel the appeal of the lure of temptation is not of itself rebellion against God.
Focus on his weariness, his hunger, his thirst, his moments of discouragement with his disciples, his need to learn obedience, and his Gethsemane prayers when he clearly did not wish to experience the extreme pain and incredible responsibility of his crucifixion.
(1) Jesus, as we, needed a certain understanding of "who am I."
(2) Jesus, as we, needed a certain understanding of his priorities.
The point: Jesus understood the relevance of what he quoted. He understood the meaning of what he cited. He did not just quote something. He quoted scripture that was relevant to his situation.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 9