Immediately after Jesus’ baptism and confirmation by the Father of Who He is. We find Jesus fasting in the desert for forty days.
Satan comes and tempts Him, first with his physical need – hunger. Satan tells Him to turn the stone into bread. He has the power.
Matthew 4:4
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then Satan takes Jesus up on top of the temple and says jump God’s angels will catch you and protect you.
Matthew 4:7
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Finally, Satan takes Jesus and shows Him all the kingdoms of the earth and says worship me and I will give them to you.
Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
We could dig into many things here, such as the obvious power Satan has to immediately transport them to different places. The knowledge of God’s word and how Satan will misuse it. How Satan uses our weaknesses against us. And the authority over the kingdoms of the earth of which he is still the prince of the power of the air. And many other insights that can come from this text.
But I was struck by forty days of fasting and then the testing allowed by God of Satan himself tempting and testing Jesus.
Jesus stays focused on what God says in His word, who He is, and whom He is to worship and serve.
And then…
Matthew 4:11
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
We often want relief, rescue, and comfort during our testing. We see from Jesus that relief and comfort came when He persevered and did what was right through the trial.
It reminded me that God allows us to be tested and He is attentive to us the whole time, but we will never get or become what we need from the testing if He rescues us from it. He wants us to trust Him and His word and put Him first through it. He will attend to our needs when we come through it.
I was reminded of this verse by pastor Bartley Sawatsky this Sunday at Renew Church
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
