Scripture

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Observation

The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. There He fasts for forty days and nights.

The devil comes and tempts Jesus three times- to make bread out of stones, to throw Himself off a high place so that angels rescue Him, and to worship satan in return for the glory of the kingdoms of the earth.

Each time, Jesus rebukes satan by quoting Scripture.

Finally, the devil goes away, and angels come and care for Jesus.

Application

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Actually the Greek word means to be thrown out. This is a forceful leading of the Spirit.

Jesus was taken out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for a confrontation with the evil one.

It is said that God does not tempt us to do evil things. However, it is also true that God allows us to be put into places where we are confronted by evil – both the evil in our own hearts and that in the hearts of others.

We don’t know the depths of sin that we can fall into until we face temptation.

Every one of us is able, under the right circumstances, to commit actions that we thought were beneath us.

Satan’s role is to remind us of how corrupt our hearts are without Christ, and to lead us to depend on Him even more.

Prayer

Lord I know temptation is real. Please give me the grace to stand firm in you. Amen.