The first time that we encounter Jesus in the Bible, He was about 12 years old. He had traveled with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem, to celebrate Passover. During the return journey to Bethlehem, it is discovered that Jesus was missing. So, they doubled back to Jerusalem to look for Him (Lk. 2:41 – 45):
Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Lk. 2:46, 47. NLT
Obviously, Jesus was already heavenly equipped for His task. What task was that? We hear Him tell it to His parents:
“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Lk. 2:49 NKJV
Mary and Joseph did not understand what He meant. (Note: this is the last biblical mention of Joseph).
Our job on this earth is to emulate Jesus to the best of our ability. Therefore, we need to be about our Father’s business as well. We accomplish this, by bringing the message about the Light of Salvation to everyone we meet.
It is a life and death message. Those who reject Christ are condemned to death.
God is not calling you to become a world-famous evangelist. He is only asking you to spread the Truth. The Holy Spirit will complete their conversion if they are willing.
You will be blessed in return. No one ever fully realizes him or herself and the fullness of divine joy, until they are freely and willfully answering their highest calling – serving God by serving others.
Jesus obediently returned to Nazareth with His parents. As for the rest of Jesus’ life from teens to adulthood, it is told to us in a single sentence:
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. Lk. 2:52 CSB
There was a man by the name of John the Baptist, who was 6 months older than Jesus. In fact, he was Christ’s 3rd cousin on Mary’s side. He was specifically endowed by God Himself to prepare the people of Israel to be able to receive His Son spiritually:
…at this time a message from God came to John the son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Lk. 3:2, 3. NLT
There came a man commissioned and sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that all may believe [in Christ, the Light] through him. John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light. Jn. 1:6 AMP
He traveled about Israel, telling of the coming of the Son of God, and baptizing people in the Jordan River. and he led them to repent of their sins, making the receivers willing vessels for Christ.
Even the Rabbis from the Pharisee and Sadducees sects came. Yet John protested their presence, knowing that they believed that just being descendants of Abraham guaranteed their salvation. John the Baptist rebukes them:
“And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Mt. 3:10 AMP
In other words, extinction is what awaits those who persist in living ungodly lives, regardless of their lineage…
Approximately 27 A.D., Jesus went to the Jordan to be baptized. John sees Him coming and cries out:
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” Jn. 1:29, 30. NLT
John must be referring to the time before Christ was incarnated, because in Earth time, John is the older.
Jesus asks John to baptize Him. John is taken aback, telling Jesus He should baptize him. Christ replies:
“It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” Mt. 3:15 NLT
Christ did not need to be baptized. He was sinless. He did so, to show us that He willingly stepped into a sacrificial role for a sinful people, so that everyone could have ready access to salvation. Notice too that He validated John’s ministerial part to play as well.
His baptism marked the commencement of Jesus’ ministry. When Christ rose out of the river, the heavens opened, He was touched by a visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and Jehovah’s voice bellowed from the sky:
“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Mt. 3:16 NLT
What we are witnessing is the Father anointing His Son through the Holy Spirit, commissioning Him for His ministry…
Jehovah filled Jesus with the Holy Spirit and sent Him on His way:
Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they ended, He was hungry. Lk. 4:1, 2. AMP
What do we see? Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit for strength, and He fasted to bring complete acuity to His Spiritual focus. And we can also note that just as soon as Christ set Himself upon a path of righteousness, the devil attacked Him with a barrage of temptations.
If you are on a spiritual journey, you will have experienced a similar pattern. Every time that you come to a place of new spiritual growth, your old ways of being, (those thoughts and desires that lead you away from God), come to the forefront. Or you may doubt the authenticity of your spiritual experience.
It is the devil who plants those doubts. Many people believe he doesn’t exist; but I beg to differ. The word of God is like being pregnant. It’s either all true or none of it is. In fact, Jesus has more to say about Satan than anyone else in the Bible.
What does the Bible say about the devil (Satan, serpent, dragon, tempter, evil one, wicked one, Belial, Lucifer, Beelzebub)? It says that He was the serpent who tempted Eve in the Garden, now cast out of heaven (Is. 14:12 – 15; Rv. 12:9). He was complicit in the first recorded murder (1 Jn. 3:12). Satan is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). The Devil can disguise himself in beauty. And he actively seeks to do you harm (Jn. 10:10; 1 Pt. 5:8).
Jesus was hungry when He encountered Satan. The devil tried to leverage that, by telling Him to turn rocks into bread so that He could eat (Mt. 4:3) He wanted Jesus to satisfy his ‘lust of the flesh’ instead of relying on His Father. Jesus responded:
“It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” Mt. 4:4 AMP
Christ sets the example for us, for overcoming our adversary in spiritual warfare. He uses the word of God as His defensive tool. In this instance, He is quoting Dt. 8:3. (This is where the wisdom of memorizing Scripture applies).
The word of God protects us from Satan when we use it (Eph. 6:11 – 18). You can keep the devil off your back by living the Truth – acting righteously, embracing the word of God through Jesus Christ, keeping the faith, holding your salvation in thankful remembrance and by serving others.
Satan tried to tempt our Lord again, by offering Jesus authority over all the earthly kingdoms of all time, if only He would worship him (Lk. 4:5 – 7). The devil is appealing to the ‘lust of the eye’ through riches and power. Jesus retorts:
“Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Lk. 4:8 NKJV
Finally, he takes Jesus to the top of the temple and tells Him to jump off, because the Bible says angels would come to His rescue (Lk. 4:9 – 11). Yes, the devil is actually quoting scripture! He is trying to tempt Christ into giving in to the ‘pride of life,’ by tossing His humility aside and exalting Himself with power. Jesus rightly responds with Scripture:
“The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’” Lk. 4:12 NLT
In other words, we are to keep faith in God’s word, instead of giving into arrogance by demanding that He prove the veracity of His word.
Christ was triumphant in this encounter, but the devil has not given up:
When the devil had finishing tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. Lk. 4:13 NLT
The devil is everywhere in this world and most of it is under his sway (1 Jn. 5:19). However, if you cling to Jesus, He’s got you covered:
The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. 1 Jn. 3:8 CSB
If we follow Christ’s example, wrapping ourselves in His Gospel, we can take a stand over all that is ungodly. Satan is beatable. He is neither omniscient nor omnipotent. The devil cannot read thoughts. He can only get in your head if you let him.
Does he make suggestions? Constantly. But he makes them only after he watches your behavior. He looks to exploit the weakest chink in your armor. However, Satan cannot make you do anything. He only has the power that you give him.
You have the free will to choose God or the devil. There is no in-between.
Put on your spiritual armor. Then, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit steps up to the plate:
…the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thess. 3:3 AMP
Goodnight and God bless.