Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Restoration Reminder by Kenton Cheek

Luke 4:1-14

The Temptation of Jesus

4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led 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 were ended, he was hungry. ³ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” ⁴ And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” ⁵ And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, ⁶ and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. ⁷ If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸ And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
    and him only shall you serve.’”

⁹ And he took him to Jerusalem and set him 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,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

¹² And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³ And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

¹⁴ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

After Jesus had fasted, He was physically hungry.  40 days of no food would also make a body tired.  How true it is that Satan comes after me when I’m tired and hungry!  My family has witnessed my hanger.  It is in the moments when the spirit is willing but the body is weak that I must be on guard against the enemy’s attacks.

Next the adversary tempted Jesus with power and authority if He would worship him.  This deception harkens back to the fall of man in Eden.  Adam and Eve already had power and authority over all the Earth and were made in the image of God, but Satan tried to deceive them by getting them to doubt the Word of God, think that God was keeping the good life from them and they could be gods in their own right rather than function in His power and authority.  Tragically, Adam and Eve gave in to the lie and relinquished their power and authority to Satan who became the prince of this world.[1]  The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus broke his power and made the way for humanity to reclaim their identity in Him. 

Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  The prince of darkness is still at work in those who have not chosen to trust in Jesus, but those who have trusted have become sons and daughters of the Most High God. Jesus has all power and authority and He invites us to function in that same spiritual power and authority by the power of His Spirit.

Finally, Satan twisted the Word of God, but Jesus rightly divided the Word of Truth, showing Himself a workman approved.  We must endeavor to follow the perfect example of our Lord Christ and know that we are thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

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[1][1] John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, Ephesians 2:2, II Corinthians 4:4