The Tempted Christ
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:13–4:11
Meditation
Jesus begins his ministry by standing in a river. John baptizes him. Heaven opens. The Spirit descends like a dove and the Father speaks. But while he’s still wet with the baptismal water, the Spirit leads Jesus out into the barren wilderness. Immediately, he moves from the affirmation of the Father to the temptation of the Evil One.
In the river, Jesus had heard his Father’s voice,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
But now, in the wilderness, the Tempter counters the Father’s words. Three times the Evil One challenges the divine roots of Jesus’ family tree,
“If you are the Son of God …”
So begins his ministry.
Before Jesus calls any of the disciples, before he teaches or preaches, before he heals or performs one miracle, before he goes to the cross, comes out of the tomb, and ascends into heaven, before any and all of this, he spends forty days in the wilderness – a time for prayer, fasting, and feasting only on his Father’s Word.
After forty days of fasting, he’s more than hungry.
He’s tired. He’s weak.
In a word, he’s vulnerable.
And that’s when the Tempter comes.
The Evil One tempts Jesus to quit his Messianic ministry before it even begins. In the hunger the Devil entices,
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
From the highest point of the temple he challenges,
“If you are the Son of God throw yourself down.”
And into the barrenness and humility of the Suffering Servant, the Evil One scoffs. He spreads his arms across the nations, and promises,
“All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.”
With each temptation there’s a price tag. But Jesus isn’t buying. He has other things for which he’ll spend his life. When tempted, Jesus doesn’t delay or deliberate. He acts and speaks decisively.
Three times he responds,
“It is written …”
He doesn’t rely on his own physical strength. Instead, in his weakness, he draws the sword of the Spirit. It’s not a long blade; more like a dagger – short, sharp, and capable of swift stabs. Jesus doesn’t draw chapters of Scripture out of his sheath, but cutting, double-edged verses.
Three times he jabs.
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
“Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
With a final lunge Jesus says,
“Away from me, Satan!”
As the devil scurries, angels sprint to attend to him.
But the Tempter only leaves knowing that there will be another “opportune time”. There will be another wilderness, another place of forsakenness and another vulnerable moment where Jesus will be tempted to save himself and challenged to prove himself to be the Son of God.
“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” (Matt. 27:41-44)
The cross is the Tempter’s “opportune time”.
But this time, he doesn’t speak directly to Jesus, as he did in the wilderness. At the cross his voice is disguised and dispersed throughout the crowd. He scoffs at Jesus through the chief priests. He taunts him through the teachers of the law. He mocks him through the elders and he even ridicules him through the two thieves crucified next to him. He tempts Jesus to save himself. As in the wilderness, he challenges him to prove his divinity.
But when Jesus is tempted, he holds fast to the cross and grips the sin of the world. Given the opportunity to choose between saving his own life and redeeming a rebel race, he chooses us.
In the river, through the wilderness, at the cross, Jesus stands firm.
He confronts his Tempter with the Word.
“Away from me, Satan!”
For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
And when the blade of the Word flashes, the Devil leaves and angels attend.
Prayer
Father,
For forty days your Son wandered in the wilderness. In the barrenness, he fasted. In the darkness, he prayed. In the wasteland, he walked alone.
And when he was at his weakest, he was tempted by the devil. Three times his enemy enticed him:
“Take care of yourself.”
“Prove yourself.”
“Indulge yourself.”
Three times he was seduced. Three times he said, “No!”
His response to each temptation was firm; his resolve didn’t waver, and his resistance defined the means and manner of his Messianic ministry.
He was the Son of Man, tempted in every way, just like us.
He was also the Son of God—pure, holy, and without sin.
During this day, help me know the Tempted Christ. When the Tempter comes into my wilderness remind me that I have a Savior who knows what it’s like to be tempted, just like me, yet was without sin.
Comfort me with the fact that he is aware of and sympathizes with my weaknesses. Assure me that, when I am tempted, his death and resurrection provides a way out.
In the name of the Tempted Christ I pray. Amen
Reflection
What is your wilderness? When are you the most vulnerable to the Tempter’s attack?
What does the Tempter whisper in your ear?
What portions of God’s Word could you use to counter these temptations?
In what areas of your life would you like to hear the Tempted Christ speak, “Away, Satan!”?
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day (Matthew 3:13 -4:11). Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted in parenthesis. All Scripture quoted on this site is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.