Growing up, I saw Jesus as a fully divine being walking the Earth in a physical body. He clearly had spiritual advantages that other humans did not. I figured it was something like a math PhD taking a fifth grade math quiz along with a bunch of first graders (the rest of us humans) and straight acing it.
“Nice job adding those fractions, Alex. How did you manage without a calculator?”
From that perspective, I viewed the strength of Jesus’ utter devotion to the Father and service to humanity as something to be worshiped–a lofty ideal that I could barely comprehend, let alone attain. Jesus’ healings, wisdom, and selfless love were both miraculous and out of reach.
However, Jesus is not merely fully divine. He was also fully human. He faced all the trials, temptations, and weaknesses that we are asked to face, and yet he came away victorious. Jesus showed us what is possible for us in our human bodies.
The perfection of Christ may be too lofty a goal for our struggling souls. However, let us not be too quick to brush aside Jesus’ high standards and settle for less. In this way, we fall short of what and whowe are born to be.
Through the temptation, Jesus’ choices point the way out of a life of fear to a one that is rich and abundant, a life of humility, connection to the Father and service to our fellow man.
William Dyce
Divine Appointment in the Desert
Following his baptism, Jesus knew where he stood. He was God’s beloved Son, in whom God was well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Seems like a great time to start teaching, healing, and changing the world. However, God had other plans in mind. Immediately after that awesome “mountaintop” experience of baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Sound familiar?
I frequently see God’s hand in the trials of my life–trials that usually follow times of blessing and ease. I’m quite sure I’m not alone in this. The Spirit lovingly leads us all into our own deserts: situations that challenge us and lead us to spiritual growth. In Jesus’ case, this time away was a divinely appointed opportunity for preparation for ministry. His public ministry followed right on the heels of the temptation–not the baptism.
This theme can be seen throughout the Bible. Several Biblical heroes (sorry ladies, almost all dudes on this list) had long periods of trying spiritual growth before the start of their formal ministries. Joseph spent a decent chunk of his twenties in a jail cell, Moses served decades as a shepherd, David years in exile being hunted by Saul. Abraham and Sarah (finally, a woman!) had to wait until they were old and gray for the birth of the child promised to them.
Next time you notice yourself in a significant trial, remember, you’re in good company! God is most likely growing and preparing you for a time of service. Like Jesus, when we view these experiences as blessings and expect to grow through them, we invite God’s peace and joy into our trials.
Hungry
We aren’t given much on what happened during those forty days. In fact, the only information Matthew gives about Jesus’ time in the desert is what Jesus didn’t do: eat. Matthew and Luke amusingly remind us that “…afterward, He was hungry” (Matthew 4:2). Part of me wonders why that verse is even in there. The Greek isn’t ambiguous either–this isn’t a metaphor for spiritual hunger or something deep. By “hungry,” Matthew just meant that Jesus’ physcial form would have jumped on a trip to the closest smorgasbord about that time, plain and simple.
But what really happened during that time of fasting? Was Jesus praying? Sermon planning? Having long talks with his Father? The Bible also isn’t clear regarding the timing of the temptations themselves. We will assume that the “big 3” followed the 40 days. However, temptation is a close friend as a human, and Jesus most likely had to confront his human urges many times during that time.
Regardless of how we spent those empty belly days, we can surmise a bit of the purpose of this wilderness jaunt from Jesus’ strength and reactions in the face of temptation. There was some significant spiritual preparation going on during those weeks away.
Let’s look into what Jesus learned from his time of spiritual “training” for his ministry. In doing so, we can follow in his footsteps and strive to learn from Jesus’ singular devotion to the “one thing” that matters–our relationship with God.
Temptation #1: More Than the Body
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Matthew 4:3
As he handles this first pitch from the tempter, Jesus demonstrates that he has separated himself from his identification with his physical form and its needs.
Do not mistake this for a casting aside of the body. Our bodies are indeed temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). Instead, Jesus had the deep realization that he was more than his body and its urges. His true needs went far beyond sleep, food and water. These deepest needs were spiritual, only satisfied by God Himself. Thus, when Satan brings the temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus quickly responds, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
Jesus knew who he was, who we all are: spiritual beings in need of spiritual food. One test down, two to go.
Temptation #2: Connected to the Father
Jean Marie Saint-Eve
Next, Jesus affirms that he is confident in his relationship with God. (Side note: This is the next temptation according to Matthew; Luke offers a different order of the temptations. Matthew wrote for a Jewish audience and wanted to end on the mountain, connecting Jesus to Moses).
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4:5-6
Jesus completely, unconditionally trusts His Father and His Father’s will for him. He also knows he is not separate from God or lacking in any way. He and God are one. Therefore, anything that belongs to God belongs to Jesus. (Try to list something that doesn’t belong to God to get a feel for what isn’t on this list).
Thus, Jesus has no need to either test God or make a public show to garner support or approval of people. He already has all he needs in his Father. The Devil then pulls Jesus’ Scripture quoting technique and tries to use it against him. He encourages him to throw himself off the Temple for the angels to catch. Jesus quickly waves him off with some Scripture of his own, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12).
Temptation #3: Serving God Alone
The last temptation tests Jesus’ priorities. Is he free from the desires of ego–wealth, power, ease of living, reputation?
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Matthew 4: 8-9
Satan offers Jesus’ the literal world, and Jesus sees right through the lie. Anything that the Devil could offer Him is hollow. Any happiness from power and splendour would be short-lived and would simply require an increasing “dose” of the same to keep anyone content. Jesus knows where his true happiness and fulfillment lie. Thus, he declares the command to worship and serve God alone, then sends Satan away with forcefulness.
Trading Lies for the Truth
Jesus went to the desert to model what is required for all of us–purification of our souls. Jesus models the need to rid ourselves of our attachment to the world, our physical forms, and the concept of our existence as separate from God. After hearing at his Baptism, “This is my Son, whom I love, in whom I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22), Jesus took forty days to make that trust his reality.
He was more than his physical body and he was loved and secure in his relationship with his Father. Only through letting go of all that held him to this world could he have what truly mattered. He chose love over fear, connection to his Father over separation and isolation, selfless service over self-aggrandizement.
Once setting aside the lies for the truth of his connectedness to God and the surrender of his will to the Father, Jesus was ready for his public ministry. He was in a place where the power of God could flow through him. He used that power to release others from fear and imprisonment to their false identification with the body and their separate selves. Because Jesus had freed himself of the fears and insecurities that plague us on this Earth, he could be genuine, honest, and able to give what people truly needed: selfless love and wisdom. Afraid not even of death, he could give true life to others.
The power of the Holy Spirit could flow through him because his will was surrendered to God’s.
The Gift of Abundant Life
Jesus changed the course of human history because he was us. He truly loved us and gave up all his concern for himself in service to the creator, and through the creator, us, the created. Because he humbled himself in this way, everything the Father has, everything that is, became Jesus’.
This path is not easy for us. Yet, it is possible. We may not walk it perfectly, but we are called to walk the path nonetheless.
May we take up the cross of Christ and be set free to change the world. Only then can we truly live. John 10:10 states, “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” May we accept this gift.
A wonderful post, Leah. This reminds me of Philippians 2:8: “And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.” Blessings. . .