Last time, we looked at all the events that surrounded Jesus during and shortly after His birth. (See What Happened When Christ Came to the Earth)
The account of Jesus’ childhood is very brief. Luke sets the stage by showing how His Father is intimately caring for His Son:
And the Child continued to grow and become strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him. Lk. 2:40 AMP
On an earthly level, we encounter Jesus as a 12-year-old boy, taking a caravan trip to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. When Mary and Joseph were returning home to Nazareth, they discovered that Jesus was missing. So, they returned to Jerusalem to find Him.
Three days later, they find Him in the Temple court:
…sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard Him were amazed by His intelligence and His understanding and His answers. Lk. 2:46, 47. AMP
Mary chided Him, saying she and His father Joseph were very concerned at His missing. Jesus responds:
“Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Lk. 2:49 AMP
Even at the age of 12, Jesus was cognizant of who His real Father was.
The remainder of Jesus’ childhood is compressed into this short passage:
Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. Lk. 2:51,52. NLT
Now we are being transported into when Jesus, as a young man, encountered His 6 months elder and third cousin on Mary’s side, John the Baptist, who, at this time was consumed with doing God’s work:
…in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [his son-in-law], the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin; as it is written and forever remains written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
‘Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and the crooked [places] shall be made straight, and the rough roads smooth;
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’” Lk. 3:2-8. AMP
John was baptizing people in the Jordan River – leading them to repent of their sins, transforming them into willing vessels for Christ’s redemption.
Even Rabbis from the Pharisee and Sadducees sects showed up. John rebuked them, knowing they believed that just by being Abraham’s descendants, their salvation was guaranteed. John chides them:
“Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” Mt. 3:10 NLT
Approximately 27 A.D., Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized. John sees Him approaching and he cries out:
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’ Jn. 1:29, 30. AMP
John is saying that Jesus possesses a much greater spiritual authority; and as far as ‘existing before me’, John is 6 months’ older than Jesus. So, he is referring to the fact that He has existed before time itself. He is also saying that Christ takes away the sins of the Gentiles as well. That had to rattle those Rabbis.
The Baptizer focuses on the supremacy of Jesus again:
“As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.” Mt. 3:11 – 14. AMP
No fluff here!
Jesus approaches John to be baptized. John protests:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him… “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” Mt. 3:13, 14. AMP
Christ responds:
“Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.
After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!” Mt. 3:15 – 17. AMP
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together! Jesus’ ministerial commission has just been granted.
Note that Jesus did not need to be baptized. He was sinless. He did so to show the people (us) that He willingly stepped into a sacrificial role for a sinful humankind, so that everyone had access to salvation. Also, He gave John a major validation for his ministry to the people present.
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. Lk. 4:1, 2. NLT
Nothing like facing the ultimate test at the beginning of His ministry – standing toe to toe as the Warrior) with Satan himself:
Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to turn into bread.”
Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’” Lk. 4:3, 4. AMP
“…but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Mt. 4:4 AMP
Jesus is quoting Dt. 8:3. This is His approach with all of Satan’s temptations – answering them with Scripture. (This demonstrates the importance of memorizing some of them.)
But what is the devil trying to persuade our Warrior to do? He wants Him to satisfy His own needs over His Father’s, to satiate His lust of the flesh instead of faithfully relying on God’s provisions.
Before we continue with this spiritual duel, let’s move back and take in the big picture. Jesus first prepared Himself for this encounter with the enemy by filling Himself with the Holy Spirit, and then fasted to bring complete acuity to His Spiritual focus. And what happens? He’s attacked.
This is a very common scenario with people of faith. They hit a place of higher spiritual growth, and what happens? The adversary immediately plants doubt in your thoughts – sending you back into a tailspin of your old godless behaviors or trying to make you think your new spiritual experience was inauthentic. He speaks only lies.
Satan is real. Jesus spoke of him more than anyone in Scripture.
The word of God protects us when we use it.[1]
The Devil tries another tactic, saying:
Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Lk. 4:5 – 7. NLT
Satan was granted dominance over the world by God for only a short time. It was ultimately promised to Christ. Had Jesus succumbed to the ‘lust of the eyes’, He would have forfeited His role as Savior.
Jesus strikes back:
“It is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’” Lk. 4:8 AMP
Again, Jesus fights back with the word of God.[2]
Finally, the devil takes Jesus to the top of the Temple, and says:
“If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Lk. 4:9 – 11. NLT
The Son of God hits him again by declaring His Father’s dictates[3]:
“It is said [in Scripture], ‘you shall not tempt the Lord your God [to prove Himself to you].’” Lk. 4:12 AMP
Thus, we too must place our faith in God’s word instead of arrogantly demanding He manifest it according to our will.
Yahoo! Our Champion won this skirmish hands down. However, Satan has not given up yet:
When the devil had finished every temptation, he [temporarily] left Him until a more opportune time. Lk. 4:13 AMP
Jesus begins gathering His apostles next time!
Goodnight and God Bless.
[1] Eph.6:11-18.
[2] Dt. 6:13
[3] Dt. 6;16