Turning Stones Into Bread

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

- Luke 4:3-13

 

The devil tempted Jesus three times during His forty days fasting; it was when Jesus was physically weak that the devil grabbed the chance.  Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted.  And why was Jesus tempted by the devil? “Temptation is part of the human experience.”  Jesus was fully human and fully God.  Jesus had to experience temptation as well for Him to be able to understand us fully.

Jesus went through temptation, and so do we; we are not exempt from it.  Everyday we face it. Everyday we battle against it. Jesus wasn’t tempted once; He was tempted three times and not only that, He was tempted several times after this event.  But Jesus was victorious over the devil’s temptation.  He resisted them all, and His defense was the Word of God.  He did not rely on His own strength, but depended on His Father’s strength.  Jesus was always alert on the devil’s schemes; He never let His guard down.

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Jesus set the perfect examples for us to follow whenever we face temptation.  Jesus didn’t give in to temptation. He overcame temptation. What Jesus did, we also should do.  Jesus used the Word of God as His offensive and defensive weapon against temptation.  He resisted the devil, and He was always on guard against the enemy’s attacks.  Jesus depended on His Father for strength and not on Himself.

Now, we can’t say that Jesus does not know what we are going through.  We can’t say that Jesus doesn’t understand us when we struggle with temptation.  We cannot just say that, for Jesus went through the same temptation we have experienced.  Jesus fully understands us, and the good news is that we can fully depend on Him for the strength we need to resist the devil’s temptation.  We must always be on guard against the enemy by meditating on the unshakable truth of God’s Word.

And when, at the moment, we gave in to temptation, do not despair. Hold on to God for He is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Cor 10:13).

[Journal entry: April 18, 2012]