When Jesus was age 30, He came from Galilee to the Jordan River area where he knew John the Baptist to be, Matthew 3:13-15, 14-17. Jesus was now ready and prepared to take up his ministry. His unique ministry as the Son of God, and Son of Man, was confirmed by the Spirit of God descending upon him like a dove, and by the voice from heaven which said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. Jesus was to be the mediator through whom redemption from sin would be accomplished and reconciliation would be re-established between God and man.
Some find it difficult to associate human nature to Jesus. This association, however, is extremely important since it is only because Jesus was ‘made like his brethren in every respect’ (Hebrews 2:17) that he could represent them perfectly in his sacrifice. In Hebrews 4:15 we are plainly told Jesus ‘was tempted -In all things as we are yet without sin’, and because of this he is able to sympathize with, and ‘help those who are tempted’, Hebrews 2:18. We must acknowledge we are all desperately in need of his help.
Up to this point in our studies we have purposely deferred any consideration of controversial subjects. However, now for the first time, in the New Testament we meet the problem of sin personified in the words Satan, Devil and demons. A personal supernatural devil was never a problem to the Jews in the Old Testament times. The Law of Moses was specific regarding offerings for sin. It placed the responsibility for sin where it rightfully belonged – on the individual himself. The Jew had no delusion regarding his own responsibility in the matter. He knew only too well where sin originated, (Jeremiah 17:9), and the only remedy was repentance and sacrifice for the remission of sins. The Mosaic ritual provided for this. The Israelite identified himself with the sacrificial animal by placing his hands on the head of the animal and confessing his wrong. There was never any thought of an outside tempter in the form of a supernatural being who prompted or led him into the path of evil.
Think for a minute – if such an outside evil influence had existed, how tragic the consequences would have been, as no provision had been made in the Law of Moses to cope with it. It is significant that no suggestion, reference or information of any kind concerning a devil or satan is to be found anywhere in the writings of Moses, who received his instructions from God.
Matthew 4:1,2 Jesus being aware of his possession of the Holy Spirit just bestowed upon him, and not as yet having had opportunity to fully appreciate it, the Spirit then compelled him to seek the solitude of the wilderness to meditate upon his ministry and the implications of possessing “the spirit without measure”, John 3:34. The possession of God’s inspiring power must have also made Jesus fully aware and to see more clearly the course of events which were to follow in his life, as foretold in the various prophecies he knew so well. It appears, by his words in the Gospel records, that Jesus understood in advance the dread anticipation of a cruel death by crucifixion and that his human mind would naturally seek for alternatives or even escape. Human reasoning would plan to use this tremendous power to provide personal benefit. An inner conflict between his natural human inclinations to avoid the cross on the one hand, and the desire to do His Father’s will on the other, weighed heavily upon him as it would on anyone. He realized, however, that the use of the Holy Spirit for any other purpose or way than that directed by God could only bring a very limited comfort and satisfaction compared with what God had planned. Jesus had been preparing his mind from a very young age by his study and assimilation of God’s Holy Scriptures. Now, 40 days of fasting and prayer after his baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, he was determined in the path he would follow. His responses to the temptations were set according to his acceptance of the Divine principle: “It is written”, Luke 4:4,8,12
Jesus emerged the victor in this trial. That more temptations would come and other trials take place is clearly indicated where we read’ ‘He departed from him for a season”, Luke 4:13.