Temptation

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Imagine if Hollywood had directed the story of Jesus’ ministry. He would have been greeted by angels, adoring crowds, and a parade down Main Street. But that’s not how God does things, is it?

Instead, Jesus' ministry begins with two important moments: His baptism in the Jordan River, followed by an encounter with Satan in the desert. This account was so important that all four Gospel writers included these two events.

Picture this: Jesus rises from the waters of baptism, and God's voice rings out to declare Him as His beloved Son. But instead of launching straight into powerful miracles or preaching, Jesus heads into the desert. 

For 40 days, He fasts and then faces direct temptation from Satan. This story may only be 200 words but it is packed with hope for you and me. Why? Because it shows you that while temptation happens to each of us, it doesn't have to win.

Have you ever wondered why these events happened in this order? Matthew tells you that God's Spirit actually led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Now, don't misunderstand–James 1:13 makes it clear that God never tempts anyone to sin. So why would the Spirit lead Jesus there? I believe it was to give us a masterclass in standing firm against temptation.

Through Jesus' experience, we learn three life-changing truths:

1. Expect temptation–if Jesus faced it, you will too
2. Recognize Satan's tactics–he's clever, even twisting Scripture to try to trip you up
3. Stand firm on God's Word–Jesus shows you exactly how to do this

Here's the encouraging part: as a follower of Jesus, the same Spirit that empowered Him, lives in you. That means temptation doesn’t have to defeat you. You have everything you need to stand strong.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power of Your Word–helping me remember that through Jesus, I can face temptation and overcome it. Thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit, guiding me to recognize the enemy’s tactics and stand firm in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.