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JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Matthew 4:1-11

Deuteronomy 8:1-5

 

“…the truth and the life.”

 

JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS
 
The four hundred silent years between the Old and the New Testaments had ended when the angel spoke to Zacharias to announce the coming birth of John the Baptist. With the baptism of Christ, John’s ministry drew to a close and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ began.
 
Just prior to the Lord’s active ministry, a very important event took place. The Lord underwent a special period of tempting by Satan. We need not suppose that He had not been tempted before. Since Satan’s aim was to stop God’s plan of salvation, we must assume that he was active during the silent years of Christ’s physical growth. But of this we know nothing. Now the ministry of Christ has begun and proof of His sinless divine person would be shown. To reveal the certainty of the doom of Satan, he would be allowed to tempt the Son of God by every means at his command. It was for this reason that the Holy Spirit led Christ into the wilderness (Matt 4:1; Luke 4:1).
 
The period of forty days and nights reminds us of the forty years of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness. According to Moses the purpose of this wandering was to test them in order to show what was in their hearts whether or not they would obey the commands of the Lord (Deut 8:2). Jesus proved Himself to be of honest and sinless heart, depending on the Word of God for His defence against the arrows of the wicked one (Matt 4:4). This time of testing would also show that our High Priest is One who can understand and help us, having subjected Himself to the limits of a human body and subject to every temptation and yet without sin (Heb 2:17-18).
 
The Lord’s ministry began to be under attack by the evil one. It was to end in great victory. It is this same victory over sin that God offers His people who will obey His Word. May we be found faithful.
 
THOUGHT: Why was Jesus allowed to be tempted in the wilderness?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, that victory can be mine through Jesus Christ my Lord.

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