Spirit-led to Temptation
Luke 4:1-2, 13-14
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.
And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
One popular proof text for many religious folks is 1 Corinthians 10:11-13:
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.1
Usually the emphasis is on the ‘not let you be tempted’ and ‘provide the way of escape’ and not on God’s enabling ‘that you may be able to endure it.’ But we only have to go back to the preparation of Jesus for ministry immediately following His baptism by John and acknowledgment by the LORD to see this text live out.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” 2
Many of us are susceptible to emotional peaks and valleys, highs and lows and this had the potential for that—Jesus had been in his earth suit for 30 years, living in the earthly form of one of His creations. He had just publicly identified with us by being baptized by John and then,
… when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 3
Doesn’t get much better! Another moment when the Eternal God is expressed in the three persons together in manifestation. Almost one of those moments you want to just stop everything and camp at this point in time but that is not the narrative:
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” 4
What? Divine acclamation, full of the Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, forty days of tempting by the devil and then more tempting? What about the glory moments less than 45 days ago? And how can being ‘full of the Spirit’ and ‘led by the Spirit’ not insulate one from temptation? We usually only talk about the last three temptations but the text says temptation was across the first 40 days as well. But, Jesus is the best example of the sufficiency of God to ‘provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it’ for after the last three in this period of testing,
And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.5
Jesus went through the temptations, endured the testing without giving in to the promptings of the devil and then continued in the power of the Spirit as He went forth into ministry. Success at least for now as the text includes the comment that the devil ‘departed from Jesus until an opportune time.’ It wasn’t a one-and-done scenario and neither will it be for us but we have the Word of God that,
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.6
There is the assurance that Jesus who was tested in every respect is sufficient to walk through our trials and temptations so that we can both endure and come through victorious in Him. Thank You, LORD!
All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
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