How Jesus Beat Temptation and You Can, Too!

What if Jesus sinned?

It's a scary thought, really. I mean, if Jesus had sinned, we'd still be in need of a Savior. He was perfect in His life, so His sacrifice was worthy- perfect, that is- to fulfill the law's demands for punishment. The problem is, I think we tend to forget or at least gloss over the fact that Jesus could have sinned.

Luke 4 contains one of three versions of the temptation in the desert- all of them begin with Jesus being led into the desert by the Holy Spirit. Wait- check that out- Jesus was led by the Spirit knowingly into a situation that would hold massive temptation. It is almost like Jesus was being tested by the Spirit- and His Father. Now, the other 2/3's of the Trinity did not cause the temptation, but they did put Jesus in Satan's cross-hairs (heh, pun un-intended). The Father and the Spirit knew that a Savior who got a free pass would not be much of a Savior- Jesus had to be able to actually face and resist temptation to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God. If Jesus had never faced temptation, He would not know how to relate to us when we are tempted. Instead, Jesus listened to the tempting voice of Satan, and said, "Nope."

It wasn't just that He refused to give in, it was how. He responded, each time, with Scripture. Not a hollow kind of Scripture memory, words Jesus chose to use were pointed to the specific temptation of Satan.

What Kind of Bread?
When Satan tempted with bread, Jesus spoke words that referred to Deuteronomy 8:3, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Luke only records Jesus saying the "man doesn't live on bread alone" part, but the reference is clearly stating that man needs the words of God. Jesus knew of this need, because He had come to the desert after His baptism- a baptism in which He heard His Father proclaim, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) Jesus is telling Satan (and us) that the affirmation of our Father is more sustenance than any bread- literal or figurative. Jesus knew the power of those words, and used that power to withstand all of Satan's attacks.

Power Play
Satan next appeals to the power hungry. Fortunately Jesus is not power hungry. The Accuser offers power over all the world- something I believe Satan had the authority to give, you know, being the prince of this world and all. The funny thing is, Satan offers what Jesus will ultimately have anyway. Jesus will reign over the earth- so the temptation Satan offered was a short cut. Worship Satan, get power now without suffering the Cross. Jesus responds by saying something that hearkened back to Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus says worship, where Deuteronomy says "Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name." Revere God only. No one else is above the Father, not Satan, not the Son. See, Satan says worship me, but the real temptation was for Jesus to be a 'self-made man.' To get all the power coming to Him by way of a path apart from the Father's Will. The worship would ultimately be a worship of Himself apart from the Father, because He had made it Himself. Jesus knew that for the Father's plan to work, He had to stick to it, and at the heart of it all, Jesus loved and revered the Father more than Himself.

Don't Test Me
Finally, Satan throws his curve. He quotes the Psalms about Jesus having the power to command the angels to protect Him. The appeal here is to entitlement. "Jesus, the Father OWES you protection." Again Jesus goes to that book that we so often glance past quickly, Deuteronomy 6:16: "Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah." Massah is the place where the Israelites called God out, saying He brought them out of the plentiful food and water (and slavery) of Egypt to die in the dry, foodless desert. Moses was told to strike a rock, and water flowed. But the damage had been done, the Israelites had claimed their entitlement- "If we're really the Chosen Ones, come through. Hold up your end of the bargain- if you're really there." Jesus knew that the Father OWED Him nothing. Jesus was a servant of His Father...and a Servant of all people. To claim His importance in such a way as Satan tempted would be Jesus claiming His own greatness- that He was more than us. And though He is more than us, He came to walk amongst us, to know our sufferings, to know our pains. And yes, to know our temptations.

That's the heart of the temptation in the desert. To get Jesus to take the easy way out. And really, that's the same temptation we face daily- to take the easy, self-centered path. None of us are called to be Savior like Jesus was, but I bet we're called to live a life of importance to God. When we face temptation and give in, we are surrendering the greater plan the Father has for us. Yes, we will fail. But we must, at some point, face those temptations that derail and respond as Jesus did.

And how did He respond? Out of a vibrant and active relationship with His Father. No matter what defenses we set up against temptation, they will fail if our relationship with God is weak. Jesus was secure and strong in His relationship. He was walking in that strength when He went into the desert to be tested. Just as He walked with the Father in all of His days. And when Satan returned to tempt at a more opportune time, as Luke 4:13 says, Jesus was ready.

For He still walked hand and hand with the Father. And nothing could separate that.

Imagine what we could be if we lived like Jesus did through His temptation.