Each temptation involved a different aspect of Christ’s Sonship. Not denying the Lord’s identity, Satan sought to debase it; it’s the temptation every Christian must RESIST. For the Devil never stops creating illusions he calls religions—mystical, intellectual, passive, aggressive—each an attack on the Master’s Singularity.
The first temptation, using stones, aimed to alienate Jesus from faith in God to what religious science lovers believe is self-realized divinity. Our Lord staunchly proved God’s chosen Son by trusting God to provide him food WHEN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. The second temptation, using the temple, aimed to divert Jesus from teaching to miracles as his appeal. That wistful dream empowered every Jewish firebrand: it saw a re-birth of Davidic sovereignty based on God’s miraculous power. True, the idea would rally priestly and lay support, for who wouldn’t follow a man who fed the hungry, restored broken and withered limbs, kept people alive for centuries before dying? And all it would cost was leaving sin unforgiven except as a promise—next year, next year, next year, etc., etc. The third temptation, using the kingdoms of the world, essayed to turn Jesus from his Singular position in history to a competitive religious leader. Accepting Satan’s compromise to be a MORAL leader—a decent, hail-fellow-well-meant, likeable, back-slapping, smiling, hand-shaking, baby-kissing, get-along with everyone politico—anything not to die on Calvary to forgive sin and put it on the way to extinction. With rapier rapidity Jesus flashed God’s Sword in Satan’s face against every effort. Proving that the best answer…the singular answer Satan cannot counter…is…GOD’S WORD! Let us use IT, Christians, to defeat Satan and his suggestive lies, deceits and claims. Fini
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(Note: Apologies for another week of health issues eliminating production. V)
God ordered John the Baptist to the desert to preach. He forcefully sent Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He surrounded John with many disciples and seekers; while isolating Jesus from all but wild animals. He fed John a spare diet of locusts and wild honey; while denying Jesus all food for 40 days and nights. Obviously, whatever God gifted the Baptist to achieve, he expected more of Jesus. Which is why John made no claims beyond being a servant of the Christ; and Jesus embodied the fulness of the Godhead in human form Colossians 1:19, 2:9. Jesus and Satan stood as moral and spiritual opposites: Jesus Perfect, Satan perfectly evil, corrupt and debased. Satan boasted of his rule over humanity; Jesus proved he alone held authority over everything in creation, including stars and planets, Colossians 1:16-17, human history, all of its mortals and Satan himself, I Corinthians 15:20-25, Revelation 20:10. End Part I |
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