Day 4 of 24 (2021)

Day 4 of 24

Today's Passage: Luke 4

Today's focus: vs. 1-13

Author: Dominga Li

The Temptation of Jesus

 

It's so wonderfully encouraging and hopeful to read The Temptation of Jesus after last year's study of the book Genesis at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). The Genesis study started with God making the heavens and the earth and everything in it. And God saw that it was good. In Gen 1:27, He made man and woman in His own image and blessed them and let them rule over His creation. God's creation was perfect, but then, there was the temptation from the serpent, Satan. Adam and Eve fell for Satan’s lie and rejected God’s perfect love and authority. After that, the world was filled with evil, suffering and death from Adam’s sin. In studying the rest of the book Genesis, we saw the devastation of sin, but more importantly the amazing God's love and mercy. God has prepared a way for Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human to be our Savior.

In the New Testament book of Luke, Jesus is here! God's Spirit descended on Jesus at the baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit in the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus being fully human, he could have sinned, but he remained obedient to God with God’s Word and overcame Satan's unimaginable temptation. Satan wasn't able to stop God’s plan for Jesus. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27) After the temptation, Jesus began His ministry proclaiming the truth and fulfilling God’s will. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

How great is it that Jesus Christ, who is fully human and was tempted by Satan, unimaginably was able to triumph without sinning once. While we are still on this earth with Satan, we are sure that his temptation pervades every minute of our lives. Jesus had been through it all and he understands our struggles and weaknesses. Because of this, we don't have to be afraid and come before our gracious and sovereign Lord.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

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Were you encouraged by today's passage or the devotional? What stood out to you as you read the chapter and devotional? What did the author say that resonated with you? Please leave a comment below to encourage other readers too!