October 29, 2021
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 Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 4 (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Luke 4
Jesus’ temptation is really good to study here. I think learning to resist temptation is one of the most practical things we can learn. On a daily basis we are tempted and do not even realize it. We are living in a culture where we do not limit our intake of anything: entertainment, food, sex, money, power etc… However, Jesus seems to have practiced self-control and is prepared leading up to this interaction with Satan.
Jesus has grown up in a culture that fasts (such as on Yom Kippur). This is not His first time practicing giving up food in devotion to God for a period of time. We can also practice fasting from whatever we find ourselves indulging in: TV, snacks, relaxation, video games etc… If we are unable to resist simple pleasures in our day to day lives, how do we expect to resist the big temptations when they come? The life ruining temptations?
Jesus also worships God and puts His relationship with God above all else. To betray God the Father by worshipping Satan would be unheard of. That would be like betraying a best friend, more than a best friend! We can get to know God through prayer, meditating on His goodness, worshipping Him, and reading His word.. It’s hard to upset people we really are great friends with and we usually rise or fall to the standards of our friend group. We tend to become like the people we hangout with, why not hangout with God?
Lastly, Satan tempts Jesus by using scripture against Him. This is Satan’s most nefarious and tricksy temptation, which is why I think Luke decided to list it last (Matthew puts Satan-worship as the last temptation, which is arguably the more grievous sin). Jesus, however, understands the context of this Psalm and knows further scripture to understand it through. We need to be good students of the scripture so we are not deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing, by false teachers abusing scripture to tempt us into hersey and sin. Many of today’s cults utilize scripture to justify wickedness, but when it is read in context their doctrine falls apart.
Luke 4
Satan. Can’t wait to see him get thrown into lake of fire. Jesus allowed himself to be tempted. As to show his humanity and as a great example for us to combat with the truth. Satan attacks at the weakest point. It’s been 40 days. The only power Satan had is what God has allowed him. To say this works is my kingdom. Doesn’t really matter now. I have overcome the world!!! Such powerful words!! Came across one individual years ago in possession. Praying in the spirit the blood of Christ against you. Saw a human before my eyes return to his right frame of mind. The power in the name of Jesus is real and alive!! Peter’s mother in law severely sick. Immediately she is healed gets up and begins to wait on them. That’s power that’s available to us. According to our fathers will! Jesus still healing at sunset and into the night. Daybreak he goes to a solitary place to pray most likely to his father. Like us to be energized once more!!!
The tempting of Jesus is something we should all take note of as an amazing example of self control. Even with the power and authority He had to satisfy His earthly needs Jesus remained in control and did not waiver. We always want more even when we can’t afford it or really can’t make it happen and actually put ourselves in a worse situation over our earthly wants.
It is also no surprise that the word of Jesus spread so quickly with all He was doing but even more I love that Luke reminds us several times that just the words He spoke contained power and authority! Even without the miracles people could tell this was no ordinary man or priest!
I was thinking of a few different things (than I normally do when reading this passage), one was about fasting. I had never fasted for much of my Christian life and started fasting for non-spiritual/health reasons. I did a lot of research on fasting and it actually is very useful for healing. One would think the opposite, but actual studies have shown this to be true (I can find you some videos if you would like.) Also, personally, I noticed that while fasting, or even in the morning when I have not eaten all night, my mind is clearer and I often have more profound thoughts seemingly come into my mind. While reading “Unbroken”, the men are stranded on a raft and have had nothing to eat for many, many days and they are able to recite whole books to each other from memory. I am thinking that I should implement fasting, spiritual fasting, in my life more…the issue with that is just the time for the focus in prayer for a pro-longed period of time.
The other thing I was wondering about is the statement that Satan makes about the earth’s kingdoms being his to offer. 5 “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” Did Satan have authority over the kingdoms of the earth or was he just lying? I know that Satan was cast down to earth and in Job we see that God allows him considerable authority over Job, but we know that God is Sovereign and has ALL authority (Colossians 1:16). Is this like our own free-will? Satan has limited authority here and will be given unlimited authority during the tribulation until he is bound as God’s final judgment over the Jews? We are clearly in a spiritual battle here and now, even though we know the final outcome.
I think Satan has enough influence over man to basically be an authority of the earth’s kingdoms, this seems evident when we look at world politics and how evil is reigning. God however is the One with ultimate, true, and deserved authority.
He is said to be the prince and power of the air and yet any authority he has must be granted to him. He also has authority over those who choose to follow him or bend to his influence. So in a limited and deceived way satan could be telling the truth here.
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus would subject Himself to be tempted by satan? It shows His willingness to identify with what we deal with, the freedom that God gives satan to operate in, as well as a good model of how to address him. Effectively Jesus takes satan’s propositions captive and subjects them to the truth of Scripture and in each instance shows satan’s thoughts wrong and inadequate.
And wouldn’t it have been something to be there to hear Jesus read this passage. Imagine the hope and expectation the Jews had placed in it. Imagine all the times it had been read for the centuries since it had been written and the people would be left saying “Yes Lord, make it be so, but when and how and through whom?” And then for Jesus to say after reading it “Today, in your presence, this scripture is fulfilled.” What a clear declaration and affirmation of who He is and what He came to do. How sad that the people who knew Him best would hold that knowledge against Him.
And yet in another town, another context, Jesus glory and power shines. We can certainly imagine the buzz that would happen when people learned there was a healer in the region. And isn’t it neat that after a busy night of healing, Jesus seeks solitude in the presence of His Father. It’s a good pattern for us to follow as well…..