Testing in the Wilderness
Scripture
Jesus is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1-11)
Reflection
Lent is a liturgical season of forty days (not counting Sundays) that represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing to begin his ministry and enduring Satan’s testing.
Following his identification with sinners in his baptism, Jesus would now identify with them by being sorely tempted. Matthew 4:1–2 gives us a clear picture of how this account began: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” It was not coincidence that brought Jesus to the wilderness, God himself led him to that place. It was there that Jesus would prove his sinless character and, by example, teach us important things as he overcame the devil.
We should not be surprised when Satan is active in our lives when we are at our lowest point, when we would seem to be most vulnerable. Jesus had been fasting forty days and forty nights; he was in the depths of physical weakness when Satan came to test him. Yet, in his weakness, he had a powerful weapon—the Word of God.
Satan challenged Jesus by distorting Scripture. Jesus combatted the lies by using the truth of God’s Word. Satan knows what the Bible says; we are wise to continue growing in our knowledge of it, asking the Holy Spirit to plant its truths deep in our minds and hearts.
Position, pride, lust—temptations that are not unfamiliar to any of us. Sometimes even in subtle ways we question God’s goodness and his concern—we wonder how God can allow difficult things happen to his children. We think he should rescue us when our circumstances are hard—we presume on his power and protection. We expect him to provide the things we want, think we need or deserve—the things of the world become more important to us than serving him, than bringing him honor and glory. Tested with these things, Jesus did not fight Satan in his own strength. Each time, Scripture was his weapon.
Jesus submitted to his Father’s timing and provision, and he was sustained with all that he needed—not just in his moments of trial in the wilderness, but then after the devil left him. Let us remember that everything on which Jesus depended to give him victory, to provide for his needs, is available to us. We, too, have everything we need—in him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we cannot begin to understand the depths of testing and suffering you must have experienced, not just in the wilderness, but all along your journey toward the cross—on Golgotha. You were tested, suffered, and died to that I might live and daily know the victory of the cross. Thank you! Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown