In the book of Mark, this event is summarized in two verses. It is the only recount which uses Satan's name...
(Mark 1:9-13) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
- Jesus was obedient to baptism (which is the public statement of being a believer)
- Jesus was obedient to the Holy Spirit's prompting
- Jesus was perfectly obedient in all things
- Jesus used scripture while being tempted by Satan...
Luke's recount is the most detailed in how Jesus was tempted by Satan. We are only given three examples, but verse 13 lets us know that Satan tempted Jesus in ALL things!...
(Luke 4:1-13) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written,
‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’
11 and,
‘On their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Matthew's recount is practically the same as Luke's, except that he mentions the angels ministering to Jesus afterwards. We don't know how they ministered to Him. Perhaps they brought food and water. We can only speculate...
(Matthew 4:11) Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.
- Satan is calculating and attacks us when and where we are the weakest (Luke 4:2-3)
- the devil is a liar, for instance, saying that all kingdoms are his to give (Luke 4:6)
- Satan tempted Jesus without success (Mark 1:13)
- the devil tempted Jesus in ALL things without success (Luke 4:2, 13)
- the devil desires to kill Jesus and any of God's plans (which would include all believers) (Luke 4:9)
- the devil was not going to give up on trying to kill Jesus, he was going to wait for other opportunities (Luke 4:13)
- angels "ministered" to Jesus (Mark 1:13)
- angels "ministered" to Jesus (Matthew 4:11)
Personal experience: notice that Jesus never argued with Satan. He could have! Especially when Satan claimed sovereignty over all the kingdoms, saying that they were all his to give. Yet, all Jesus did was quote scripture.
I think if we try to argue (with Satan, the temptation, or ourselves), we could easily fall into our own way off thinking and then find ourselves in trouble!
We need to know God's words! Now, I have short-term memory as far as things like memorizing scripture, poems or lyrics. But I do have an excellent long-term memory when it comes to things like principles, concepts and events.
So I see the template of dealing with temptation as follows:
- when I feel tempted...
- what does the Bible say about this?
- ask Jesus to help me stay obedient
- and ask Jesus to drive the temptation away
Let's look at Jesus' temptations (in ALL things) as ONE temptation (for our own sake). Jesus was tempted in all things so that He could say that He understood - because He truly has experienced any and every possible temptation!
So immediately after being tempted, Jesus asked Satan to leave!
Today's takeaway: we also have to keep in mind that right after a person becomes a believer, and right after a person is baptized, they are very vulnerable to Satan's attacks. Baptism is a very public demonstration of obedience, and it would give Satan great pleasure to publicly cause that person to stumble. So - we need to be praying...
(Ephesians 6:18) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints
(Hebrews 4:10-16) For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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