Episode 12 :: Question 1 on the Lord Jesus’ Temptation

Question 1 – Connie (USA): Dear Pastor Chris, what was the significance of the Lord’s temptation? And why was it documented in the Bible for us?

Answer 1: I want to read a part of that temptation [from] St. Matthew 4:1-3 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Now, that was just the beginning of that temptation. You can read on and on, and you will see the dialogue between Jesus and Satan at that temptation.

First, your question is: why was it documented? What’s the significance? Why was it documented for us? Firstly, it was an actual happening. Remember, many things in the life of Jesus were documented for us. This was an actual happening, so it’s important that we actually have it. And then, it also helps us to understand that Jesus as a man was also vulnerable, but he had to stand on God’s word; He had to depend on the same thing that would be available to us. He was just as vulnerable as anyone else. Thirdly, his response to Satan was exemplary. God wanted us to know how Jesus dealt with Satan, and how we can deal with Satan as well.

And in fact, talking about Satan, this particular episode helps us to understand that Satan is a real person. You know there are people who say that Satan is not real; they say Satan is a myth; they say Satan is an imagination, but he is a real person. Jesus dealt with him as a real person. So, this important story here has given us a light into the personality of that devil and how we can deal with him. And then Jesus defeated Satan there; this also helps us to know how we can handle the devil’s strategies, what he is like, how he deals with people, how he tempts people, and how we can handle him. So it’s a great blessing to us to have this kind of information in the word of God.