crazy temptations

Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

You know, sometimes I think we give Jesus a bad rap. I know for a long time I did. Because he is the Son of God, I assumed that he had it easy while he lived on earth. After all, he is God’s Son how hard can it be to resist temptations. Easy - peasy, right? But, unpack the verse above and you’ll get a different sense for how difficult life must have been for him. What’s more, knowing he suffered when he was tempted should give us hope and comfort. The same Spirit that gave Jesus the ability to stay strong lives in us, too.  

First, let’s unpack that verse. Here’s the deal. Jesus had just been baptized. He had fulfilled his Father’s will. After he was baptized, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, descended on him in the form of a dove and his Father spoke from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)

Figuratively speaking, I suppose Jesus was on the mountaintop. So where does God lead him next? He sends him to the desert, to be tempted. Nothing mountaintop-ish about that experience. He ate nothing. Nothing, for forty days, and, sorry to state the obvious, but he was probably hungry - really hungry. I don’t know about you, but I miss breakfast and I’m hungry by mid-morning. Hungry and grouchy.

This is what Jesus was up against. He was in the valley now. No mountaintop experience here. He was probably as low as low could be, and, at a moment when he was weakest, the tempter was ready. Ready to knock God’s Son off his feet. After all, Satan knew what he was doing. They don’t call him crafty for nothing. This was one of his best shots to bring Jesus down.

Maybe it’s the way Jesus responded to the devil. It all seemed to come so easy. And maybe because the account in Luke sounds so simple and matter-of fact, I’m led to believe that Jesus had it easy. But he didn’t. Not even close. He suffered. He really did. In fact, the book of Hebrews gives us an inside look at what Jesus was really going through.

Because [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Did you catch that word, that one important word? Suffered. Jesus suffered. It was no picnic. He may not have even expected it. He had come from the mountaintop, and, in a matter of days, found himself in one of life’s deepest valleys.

 You see, Jesus understands. He really does. He knows what it’s like to face some of life’s greatest temptations. He knows how hard it is to resist, to just say, “No.”  Next time you’re facing some of your greatest temptations remember this, the same Spirit that lives in Jesus, by faith, lives in us, too. Don’t make the mistake I made for so long. Jesus didn’t have it easy. Life was hard. Go to him, bring him your pain, and, remember, he’s suffered. He’s been there, too.