In this post, you will find out how Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan and how Jesus prevailed over the antics of Satan. You will also learn the significance of this event.
Lesson Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:
- Give an account of the temptation of Jesus Christ; and
- Itemise the significance of the temptation.
An Account of the Temptation of Jesus Christ
After the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit to go into the wilderness where he was eventually tempted by Devil.
While in the wilderness, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. By the time the forty days and nights of abstinence from food ended, he was very hungry. Then, Devil came and said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be turned to bread”.
But Jesus replied instead, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And this is the first temptation by the Devil which Jesus scaled through.
In the second temptation, Devil took Jesus to a holy city where he set him to the pinnacle of a temple. Devil then challenged Jesus to jump off the temple. Devil said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down for it is written, He shall give His angels charge over you and in their hands, they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Then Jesus replied again, “It is written again, thou shall not tempt the Lord, your God.” Thus, Jesus prevailed over Devil for the second time.
In the third temptation, Satan took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glories. Satan now said to Jesus, “All these things will I give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Unflinchingly, Jesus said to Devil, “Get thee behind me, Satan for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”
It was at this point that Satan left Jesus and the angels came to minister to Jesus.
The Significance of the Temptation
- The temptation of Jesus by Satan is very significant in that it effectively prepared Jesus for the great work ahead of him.
- The event also signifies that God should not be tested. If Jesus, the Son of God, refused to test God, then, he was sending a message to us all never to put God to test no matter our situation.
- The temptation also shows that Jesus could endure any height of provocation.
- Jesus’ temptation shows that we too can be tempted. Jesus overcame the temptation because of the help of the Holy Spirit. We can also overcome temptation through the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus can help us overcome any form of temptation.
- It also shows the relevance of biblical passages in our day to day activities and in keeping up to our piety. The Bible has the inherent power to assist us to overcome the temptation from Satan.
- It signifies that Jesus is not a magician and will never practice magic.