Knowing The Word in Luke 4:1-2

The Temptation of Jesus

4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.

Comments

What sort of Messiah will Jesus be? Will he use his powers for personal gain or establish a mighty empire greater than that of the Romans to rule the world in righteousness or do spectacular miracles for notoriety? He will reject all of these for they are temptations of the devil. Since it is no temptation to us to turn stones into bread or jump off tall buildings to be saved by angels, it must mean that Jesus did have access to unusual powers.

Mark and Matthew record Jesus being brought into the wilderness by the Spirit. Only Luke records him being full of the Spirit. The Greek meaning of the phrase “led by the Spirit” is not like Jesus was on a leash but that the Spirit and Jesus were so in tune, like a plane and its propeller, that it was a natural leading. During the forty days, there were ongoing temptations that culminated with the final three when Jesus was at his weakest physically.

Application

With what do you associate forty days in Scripture? Look up Numbers 14:34, Deuteronomy 9:9, and 1 Kings 19:8. Forty days or forty years appear throughout the Bible as a time of waiting or testing. Where others have failed the test or grown tired of waiting, Jesus will be victorious.

Prayer

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 218)