WHAT IS WRITTEN (I) Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Christ was constantly tempted by Satan. Among other things, what qualifies Him to be our role model in all spheres of life is the statement in our text for meditation that Jesus was tempted at different times but did not sin. This cannot be said of any other living or dead being on earth. Satan knew very well that if Jesus could be persuaded to do just one wrong act or speak one bad word, He could not be our Saviour and the whole world would be lost. For this singular reason, Satan tried so hard to get the Saviour down. But Jesus was all through His life found to be without a taint of sin. After baptism by immersion in River Jordan, John 1:9-11, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Satan followed Him to the place. The Saviour did not invite temptation. He wanted a quiet place where He could be alone to contemplate His mission and work, map out His strategies, and course of action. In so doing, the Saviour set an example for us. At times we need to be in quiet places free from the hustle and bustle of life, for prayer and meditation. At times we need to tune our minds upwards and get divine directives on the way foward. By prayer and fasting, Jesus prepared for the blood stained path He must travel. In the process of this special preparation, Satan came around with series of temptations. If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread(Matt.4:3). This was the first salvo. Adam and Eve fell due to the indulgence of appetite. And by this long period of prayer and fasting spanning for forty days, the Saviour was really hungry and perhaps emaciated. Food will be the best trap at such moments. Another serious danger in this temptation is that Satan did not come direct. What he requested Jesus to do looked simple and helpful. Ordinarilly, what is wrong in reminding someone to prepare food and eat especially when one is visibly hungry? One issue was at stake in this temptation. It had to do with the two letter word if If Jesus indeed knew and believe that He is the Son of God, He was urged to do something to prove it. But Jesus did not come to prove His divinity to anyone.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 11:11:24 +0000
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