December 4, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Advent 2025 – Day 4 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Beginning of Jesus’ Public Life
Read Sections 2.1 through 2.4 (pages 17-21)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Jesus tempted, probably at a humans lowest, 40 days no food and alone. Here is when we see He is more than a man resisting every temptation of the devil. However, you have to be encouraged by John the Baptist who is living life just based on needs and not wants, encouraging everyone to repent, to be kind, to be fair, and to live a humble life pleasing to God. Certainly we should be able to find some kind of balance in our own lives. A place where we are always striving to be like Jesus and reminded that living a life like John that doesn’t require the “stuff” over the substance is key to being humble and faithful. We must never take for granted why we are here, what our purpose is, and who provides us all of it and let our lives be to His glory!
What an amazing man John was, full of conviction, passion and the Holy Spirt. But he also knew his role in God’s plan to prepare the way for Messiah. How necessary repentance is in coming to God, to know that we must think and act differently than our sin nature would direct us in. And it is in the context of knowing we need to change, but we can’t, that the need for Jesus becomes shockingly evident. So John is bold to make statements that are true, independent of what people think, and clearly define who he is and who he isn’t. It must have been interesting to see Jesus, who he probably knew as his cousin, but now here in a new light? He knows he stands before the One that his mission was all about. And yet the baptism must happen as Jesus seeks to fulfill all righteousness. A little bit of the baton passed as well. And then Jesus is led in the desert to fast for 40 days and then be tested. This was the baptism by fire, facing the devil at what may be the weakest physical point, but heightened spiritual conviction about what His mission is, so the devil has to be faced. Challenged accepted and won, with the power of the word and the Spirit. May we too learn to resist the devil, that deceiving, roaring lion that seeks someone to devour. We have the same power and scripture that Jesus did to overcome.
John the Baptist was there anyone greater besides Jesus to ever live? The curiosity that brought people to John the Baptist was that he was living a life completely different than other religious leaders, not in temples, dressed in purple robes but out in the wilderness just preaching not about religious ceremonies, but about repenting to be baptized. To repent means a change of heart in a new way of living. I love the fact that he cared nothing about who you were or what your status was, especially to the Pharisees and the sadducees, “who told you to come and be baptized.” Always amazed that Jesus allowed John to baptize him but what a great example for us to follow our father in heaven‘s will for us here on her earth. The temptation of Jesus of course Satan comes after 40 days of fasting with no water no food and hardly any sleep when we’re sick and tired and hungry and alone that’s when Satan comes with his temptation. As Ephesians chapter 6:17 says to use the word of God, the sword The truth to fight against the temptations of Satan. Once again it amazes me how Satan can say to Jesus, I’ll give you all this kingdom. If you bow down before me. What a lie that was. The only kingdom he has is those that disobey God and care nothing about what Jesus has done for mankind. As we read last night in our Wednesday night Bible study the father of us all who is overall and through all, and in all. All kingdoms belong to our Father in heaven.
Thank you pastor Peter. . We have the same power that Jesus did to overcome the temptations of satan. Imagine that!! The Holy Spirit and the word of God.!!
Day-4. How blessed we are knowing we do not walk alone when tempted by Satan. Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 40; Jeremiah 17; The Life of Jesus 2.1-2.4
“The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
When John the Baptist says this, it reminds me of this passage in Isaiah:
“¶Behold, the Lord, the God of armies, will lop off the branches with terrifying power; Those also who are tall in stature will be cut down, And those who are lofty will be brought low. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.”
Isaiah 10:33-34 NASB2020
“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make decisions by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the humble of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt around His hips, And faithfulness the belt around His waist.”
Isaiah 11:1-5 NASB2020
Life of Jesus 2.1-2.4
Life of Jesus 2:1 – 2:5
Advent 2025 – Day 4
It is interesting that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil, He was not alone, He had the Spirit. I have been reading about fasting (mostly medical, dietary fasting) and how when we stop eating carbs, our bodies burn fat and this actually allows the body to heal and brings mental clarity. Although Jesus may have been hungry, His mind was sharp and fasting was actually strengthening Him to face the devil.
Life of Jesus day 4
It is beautiful to hear and for them to see the holy sprit come down from the heavens on Jesus