I'm going to try something different this week... I'd like us to read a passage each day, and then post ANY thoughts or questions you have regarding that particular reading. If you don't get to it today, that's fine, but just post comments when you do read it.
I guess I'm just hungry to hear what God is telling all of you through these scriptures. Don't worry, I'll be posting my own comments too.
So today, read Luke 4:1-13. But first pray that God will reveal His wisdom to you, and then meditate on what you've read. I'm looking forward to what He will show us!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Jesus Gets Tempted
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I never noticed this while reading this passage in the past, but it mentions the Spirit twice in the first verse... he was full of the Spirit and the Spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted. It's interesting to think that someone can be full of the Spirit and still be faced with temptation, though obviously true. The last verse says that when the devil had finished, he left Jesus until an opportune time. Does the devil realize that it's not an opportune time to try to tempt someone when they are filled with the Holy Spirit? What does this mean?
I also noticed the mention of the Holy Spirit in the first passage. My notice of it was that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. It had never occured to me that Jesus would be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus... does He need a bigger spiritual influence in His life? The parts of the trilogy are amazing, and somewhat confusing to me. He and the Holy Spirit are one being, but somehow completely separate. I imagine myself as being filled with the Spirit to give me guidance and give me strength. Maybe it was the human part of Jesus that needed that guidance, strength and encouragement.
I think that Jesus shows us the perfect way to deal with temptation.... to quote the scripture. If a situation arises that tempts me, I think I would be less likely to give in if I could think of a verse at that instant that would contradict the action. (Oh.... to know the Bible that well)
Jesus was first tempted to make himself some food. What's wrong with that? Could it be because he would've been acting selfishly, outside of the provisions of God? What a subtle yet important point! "Your Heavenly Father knows your needs before you ask..."
Next, he was tempted with the lure of power and glory -- pride. Much of my sin can be traced to a struggle with pride. How many temptations could be put down by: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
Lastly, He was tested with his faith. Putting God to the test is simply a lack of faith. Will I rely on my own understanding or trust completely in Him?
Selfishness, Pride, and Self-Reliance. All sin falls into one of those categories. Jesus was tempted fully and he overcame through the power of the Holy Spirit. That same power he has given to us (Acts 1:8)!
I would like to respond to Tracy's last statement. Yes, Jesus responded with the written word (logos) of God. But the devil used the logos too. I am not discounting the need to know the logos, but it is the rhema, the freshly spoken "now" word of God, the voice of the Holy Spirit, that we need to be in tune with. It is the rhema that brings to mind the logos that will strengthen us in the time of temptation. John 10:3-5 says,"...the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out...the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
Such GOOD thoughts you guys. Praise God! I had noticed some of the same things you guys commented on: Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, and Jesus and the devil both using scripture in their battle, but I love your own individual perspectives. It shows what the Holy Spirit wants you to learn from this passage.
I think this event in Jesus' life speaks volumes to us about Him and about us... Doesn't it seem amazing that Satan even had this battle with Jesus? That He saw Jesus as someone who could be tempted? It's because Jesus was completely emptied of His supremacy: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (or held on to), but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant." (Phil. 2:6-7) He emptied Himself of Himself, and then God filled Him up with the Holy Spirit. He did everything by the power of God: "'The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.'" (John 14:10) Jesus really could fully identify with us. And like Ryan said, the power that enabled Him to live His ministry is available to us: "'I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.'" (John 14:12)
John ch.14-17, are full of truths that go hand in hand with all of this: "'I am in the Father and the Father is in me'" (14:11) '"But you know [the Spirit of truth, the Counselor] for he lives in you and will be with you.'" (v.17) "'On that day you will realize that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.'" (v.20) And finally, verse 26, "'But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you.'" Tracy, Mom, this scriptures goes with your comments: the Holy Spirit teaches us and will remind us of Jesus' words. What do we do to have this? Love Him, obey Him, abide/remain in Him.
And as for Khara's question, I'd reply that the devil probably just decided he'd have to wait until Jesus was in a more weakened state to try to get what he was after... perhaps at Gethsemane.
I love these few verses. I love them because it shows that Jesus was tempted as a human being. He was tempted but was strong enough not to sin. I love that he quoted scripture while being tempted.
Post a Comment