The temptations Jesus faced

Luke 4:1-13

This was a family service talk, and we began with lots of questions (and rewards!) to see what actually happened to Jesus in Luke 4. Answers are in italics after each question:

Q: So who does God say Jesus is? Jesus is God's Son – God loves his Son, Jesus, and is pleased with him.

Q: What happened to Jesus just before God spoke? Filled with HS

Q: Where did the Spirit lead Jesus in Luke 4? Desert

Q: How long was Jesus there? 40 days

Q: What happened while he was in the desert? Devil tempted him.

Q: How did Jesus feel? Starving hungry!!

Q: What did the devil say to tempt Jesus? “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread”



This is a tough test – Jesus is starving hungry – he hasn't eaten for days & days.

“Look”, says the devil, “see this rock – imagine it's a fresh, warm, crusty, tasty loaf of bread. You're the Son of God – just say the word and you've got lunch.”

Remember, we've just been told that Jesus is the Son of God. That means he has the power of God. Whatever God does, the Son can do - he could turn that stone into bread with just a word.

But the Son must obey his Father.

And Father God has sent his Son into the world to save the world, not to serve himself.

The devil is tempting Jesus to serve himself – to look after his own needs – instead of obeying God and serving others.

Q: What does J say to the devil? “It is written, 'Man doesn't live on bread alone'”

Q: Who can finish the quote? “but from every word that comes from the mouth of God”.

Jesus is saying that there are more important things in life than eating, drinking and shopping.
Knowing God, living for God, worshipping God – this is what life's really all about.

Q: What happened next? vv5-7 "The devil took Jesus up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world."

And the devil tempts Jesus with all the power and glory that the world offer:
> the power to boss other people around.
> the glory of fame and fortune.

But that will only come if he worships the devil.

Q: What does Jesus say? 'It is written, 'worship the Lord your God and serve him only.''

If Jesus serves & worships the devil he'll get the temporary authority & splendour – the authority & splendour of this world.

But Jesus serves & worships God, so he'll get God's eternal authority & splendour – the authority & splendour of heaven.

Q: What was Jesus' final temptation? verses 9 – 11: "The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.”
For it is written: "`He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

No-one likes to suffer. And the devil is tempting Jesus to test God – if Jesus throws himself off the temple, will God stop him from suffering?

But Jesus won't test God like that. Jesus knows that his Father loves him. And even if he has to suffer, that won't change. God will still love him.

So Jesus is very different from us: when we're tempted, we often give in. We think that food and drink and shopping and sport and leisure will make us happier than worshipping God. We serve and worship the gods of education & employment looking for the authority and glory that they will bring.

As soon as we suffer, we turn our backs on God, and question his love for us. We are ungrateful sons and daughters of our Father God.

But Jesus is the true Son of God. He keeps on trusting and worshipping his Father God.

And when the devil had finished all this tempting he left Jesus alone – until an opportune time – until the time was right for him to have another go.

We'll find out when that was in a minute. First, sing about Jesus' perfect innocence and obedience to God. [Sing: Meekness & Majesty]

Turn to Luke 23:35

Jesus has been hung on the cross. He's in agony. He's dying. This looks like a good time for the devil to tempt Jesus again – only this time he does it through people.

So, as I read vv 35-43, see if you can spot the 3 temptations that Jesus faces.

1st – v35 - "the people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

2nd – v36f "The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

3rd – v39 "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

Jesus is tempted to use his power to save himself. But even as he suffers the agony of crucifixion, Jesus does not give in to temptation.

And as Jesus resists the temptation to save himself, one of the criminals hurls insults at him and treats him like his slave, 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!'

But the other criminal admits his guilt and treats Jesus as his king, 'Don't you fear God? We're punished justly – we're getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom'.

This criminal knows he's guilty. He's given in to the temptations of the devil – he'd lived for this life only; he'd looked out for himself, and claimed that God didn't care. But now, as he sees Jesus dying, he knows he was wrong, he knows he's a sinner, and deserves to die. And he realises that Jesus is different. Jesus has done nothing wrong.

And he turns to Jesus as his king, and says, 'Please, remember me when you're crowned as the one true king of creation.'

And Jesus replies, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. Today, you will be with me in my kingdom of heaven.'

Surely we have to acknowledge that we too have given in to temptation. We've lived for ourselves, we've worshipped possessions and wealth, we've questioned God's love for us.

So we need to come to Jesus in humility, admit our guilt and ask him to welcome us into his kingdom.

Let's do that now...