The Temptation of Jesus
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:2-3
If you think these were not real temptations for Jesus, think again! Imagine if you were literally starving to death, you hadn’t eaten anything for 40 days. Then imagine you had the power to easily make all the food you wanted. Jesus made food for the crowds, why couldn’t He do the same for Himself? That seems harmless. His body needed it after all.
Remember, He was there for you. He came as your substitute. Therefore, He had to live the way you live. Can you turn stones into bread to feed yourself? Then neither would He. He had to trust His heavenly Father just like we do. After forty days without any food, wouldn’t you conclude that the Father wasn’t going to feed you? It’s time to take things into your own hands.
The temptation becomes even greater when the devil taunts, “If you are the Son of God, prove it! What a weak and powerless Son of God! If you can’t even take care of yourself, how can you help anyone else?”
This temptation represents several temptations that we have fallen for: not trusting in the Father but taking things into our own hands in sinful ways to help ourselves; trying to prove ourselves rather than glorifying God; thinking about ourselves and our own needs ahead of the will of God; thinking something is harmless even though it’s against God’s will.
Thank Jesus, our Lord and Savior, that He has overcome every temptation of Satan for us. He gives us His own perfect obedience and righteousness where we have sinned.
If the world my heart entices
On the broad and easy road
With it mirth and luring voices,
Let me think upon the load
Thou didst carry and endure
That I flee all thoughts impure,
Banishing each wild emotion,
Calm and blest in my devotion.
The Lutheran Hymnal 144:3