Jesus was tempted. Some would use the word “Tested.” Matthew 4 contains the account of Satan tempting Him in the wilderness. If you haven’t read that passage, read it now. If you haven’t read that passage in awhile, read it now….
First, the Son of God was hungry. He was human. Satan tempted Jesus Christ (Yeshua) with food (bread) because he knew Jesus Christ would be hungry, because Jesus Christ was human. Can you wrap your mind around the fact that Satan had the unmitigated gaul to tempt the very Son of God?
Why would you think Satan wouldn’t tempt you? Before Jesus would begin His preaching ministry He was tempted, tested and found perfect without defect or weakness. Matthew 4:17 records Yeshua’s first Words as Preacher and Rabbi, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Do you get that? Yeshua had nothing to repent for, but the first admonition He had for the people who would hear Him was to “Repent.”
How long has it been since you invested some time in true repentance? I mean on your face, deep in your soul repentance? The first thing I must do whenever I preach or teach, is repent. Before I dare utter a word that the Holy Spirit has given me to say I must repent.
Jesus Christ (Yeshua) was tested. Perfect but tested. Tempted and still perfect. We, YOU and ME are not perfect, and we are tested, tempted… and we fail. Does that mean we are destined to fail? No. Sanctification by discipleship, Daily DEEP Bible study, Soul-stirring prayer and worship of our God in the shadow of the empty cross where Yeshua was murdered by my sins… That is where we return, on our knees because Jesus did that for you and I. However; there, at the foot of the cross is not where we must stay… The lessons are far too deep, too important to remain at one portion of the miracle of Christ.
The Beatitudes await us… and the challenge grows deeper than a simple temptation when we are hungry. Our food is the Word of God and the Work that He does in us and through us as we are daily changed by Him.
In the coming days we are going to learn what the Words of Jesus Christ of Nazareth really mean… “Is this microphone on? Testing, testing, testing…”
