The Temptation of Jesus
Mark 1:12
**Parallel with the temptation in the Garden of Eden
Here the Lord Jesus was tempted as a real man, the Last Adam. While He, in the flesh, was free of sin, He suffered all the terrible effects of the fall. He was compelled to go to the wilderness to face the temptation that the first man faced. This was necessary that He might be perfected as our Saviour and a High Priest.
John Leevers also talked about the nature of the devil. The devil is a real person also called the father of lies, prince of darkness, the deceiver, the great pretender, the one who disguises himself as an angel of light.
1. Christ was tempted to doubt His Heavenly Father.
The devil used Christ's hunger to lure Him into giving in to His emotions and satisfying His need through using the power granted to Him. Like us who are sometimes lured into doubting God's support and existence. But Christ's response was that "man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God". The Lord Jesus trusted His Father even to the point of the latter slaying Him.
What an example of what Christianity really is—self-effacing, sacrificial!
2. Even if we hear something seemingly good, citing the Word of God, we shouldn't heed self-interested interpretation of God's Word.
We should not try to manipulate the Word of God to serve our flesh.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines..., yet will I rejoice in the Lord! Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him. Job 13:15
3. The devil may have dominion over worldly things and kingdoms but He who sits on the throne of Heaven will last.
The devil here is offering counterfeit pleasure, wealth, and comfort. The Lord Jesus resisted him by remembering God's promise of giving Him the inheritance of the kingdom.
He worshipped and trusted the Father alone, with all His heart, mind and strength.
It was the future joy that fortified the Lord in giving Himself in our stead.
These temptations proved Him as a suitable saviour. There was nothing that the devil could accuse Him of.
--------------------------------------------
Set your affections on Him, trust Him, setting your eyes on what's above so that you may resist the lurings of the devil. And even if we do fail, we have a High Priest who is on our side who gave Himself up on the cross for us.