Grains of Sand

Pixabay “ …led by the Spirit…to be tempted by the devil. ” (Matthew 4:1) Before His public ministry began, and just after His baptism by John, Jesus was sent into the desert. Most of us are familiar with the events that took place while the Lord was alone with Satan. We know that each time He was approached and made an offer, He answered back with Scripture. We understand how important it is, as the psalmist writes, to have “ …hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you ” (Psalm 119:11). We know that Hebrews tells us, describing Jesus as, “ …one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin ” (4:15). But we don’t often linger at that first verse, and wonder at its message and its implications. We know temptation is inevitable. Paul was right when he penned: “ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man ” (1 Corinthians 10:13). But to be deliberately led by the Spirit of God toward an encounter with Satan and temptation? Why would...

3dfreewallpapers.com (Google Images) The wait is over. Jesus appears at the Jordan where John the Baptizer is at work. He comes, not to observe the work of His cousin, but to ask John to baptize Him. John is reluctant until the Lord says: “ It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness ” (Matthew 3:15). There are several explanations as to why Jesus, the sinless One, would submit to this rite. Perhaps the simplest one is that John’s ministry was of God so that what he, as God's voice, asked people to do must be obeyed. Both as fully God and fully Man, obedience to God’s command was absolutely essential for Jesus. But after the glory of the event at the Jordan, and with the seal of God’s approval through the descent of the Spirit and the voice of God, Jesus is led by that Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan. It seems like an inglorious way to start a ministry. The experience at the river would have made a wonderful backdrop to, say, a great gathering ...