“We want anything but a suffering Messiah.” So writes Philip Yancey in his book The Jesus I Never Knew. I think he’s on to something. In fact, Yancey goes so far to suggest that perhaps this temptation above all others was the one to “hit a nerve” with Jesus. Jesus would have to face this temptation to dodge suffering and to take the easy way out at different junctures of his ministry.
Jesus made a regular sacrifice of not taking the easy way out. He understood that there are times you keep your nose to the grindstone and don’t turn to the left or the right. We know that he was tempted in all points as we are but sinned not. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How do you handle temptation? How do you deal with the continual struggle between doing what is right and what is wrong? What do you do when that well of bitterness begins to rise again in your heart when you encounter the wrong person or get the wrong telephone call? What do you do when you are tempted to lust, swear, get greedy, want first place or any other temptation that comes your way?
Jesus shows us how he dealt with temptation and how you can be a victor over sin.
There are five times that Jesus faces the temptation to avoid suffering and go ahead and become Lord of the world. Five different times that Jesus was given the opportunity to stop, drop and short-cut the plan. Five times that Jesus could put on the ring of power and become king of the world but each time Jesus does not give in. Each time Jesus finds a way to overcome the temptation and carry on with the Father’s plan.
1. Jesus in the desert. (Luke 4:9-13)
In this passage Jesus is being tempted by the devil to leap from the Temple Pinnacle. Surely if someone jumped from it and survived there would be astonished believers.
The Pinnacle was the by far the highest point of the temple. It was the role of one of the priests to go to the highest point of the temple and watch for the sunrise. As soon as the sun began to show itself over the horizon a ram’s horn would be sounded and the worship activities of the day would begin in the temple.
Solomon’s temple pinnacle was 207 feet. I spoke with Josh’s professor at IWU about the height of the Temple Pinnacle. Dr. Berenice (sp?) suggested that Herod’s Temple, of which Jesus would now be taken to, was much bigger and higher. He said the height depended on which side of the temple pinnacle you jumped from. There are estimates of nearly 700 feet which would be a dazzling feat for anyone. (Scripture Backdrops www.bible-history.com) Most conservative estimate would be 200 feet.
Can you imagine how quickly the people would be turned to Christ? If you jumped 200 feet and an angel rescued you wouldn’t that require a hard look? Wow! They would surely be convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. There wouldn’t be all the mess of gathering a small group of guys and trying to convince them to live by faith. Instead, Jesus would have a captive audience.
But honestly, the idea sounds good but it would really be too good to be true. We all know that you can’t buy loyalty and honest followers. Jesus wisely and rightly did not give in to temptation. But it would come back.
Jesus overcomes temptation by using scripture.
2. Jesus rebukes Peter. (Matthew 16:21-23)
One day Jesus is curious about his disciples and tests them about who they think he is. He gets various answers but then asks them point blank: Who do you think I am?
Peter answers, “You are the Christ.” He nails it and goes to the head of the class. Peter certainly must have felt great.
Then Jesus shares about his rejection, his suffering and eventual death. This is God’s plan. But suddenly Peter leaps to his feet and shouts, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”
A nerve is touched once again. The old temptation is back. Jesus immediately rebukes Peter, “Get behind me Satan.” For centuries we Christians have wondered if Jesus was calling Peter Satan- which we generally he wasn’t- or was Jesus seeing Satan’s work through Peter coming out- which we generally think was happening. I want to also suggest that Jesus saw the old temptation, as well meaning as Peter may have been, coming to the fore-front and once again trying to gain a foothold in Jesus’ life. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus was making sure that not Satan and his disciples knew that he was following through with the plan but that he himself was certain of his intentions.
Once again Jesus overcome temptation but this time by rebuking it.
3. Jesus withdraws from the Crowds. (John 6:14-15)
Jesus must have known that when he made bread for the 5000 that something would happen. He must have sensed the dangerous ground he already was on. But the people could not be ignored. Yes, he was being faithful in meeting their physical needs of healing and spiritual needs with sound biblical teaching but he now needed to attend to their physical nourishment. And so with two small fish and five barley loaves, he multiplies the food and there are twelve basketfuls of bread crumbs leftover.
But a problem is beginning to take shape. He knows that by meeting their needs at every point- spirit, soul and body- they want more. They have suddenly caught a glimpse of a whole new world with Jesus as king. They saw a world where would be no limit to what they could do, they would never hunger again and never be sick again.
Jesus sees from afar their scheme: make him king whether he wants to be king or not. And so what does Jesus do? He withdraws to a mountain to be by himself. He avoids any confrontation, avoids any sense of explaining himself once again and gets with his Father for some alone time.
Jesus withdraws from temptation’s snare and goes to be alone on a mountain. Temptation is defeated once again.
4. Jesus in the Garden. (Matthew 26:39-44)
The whole plan is coming down to the nitty-gritty. By now the Pharisees are livid, Judas agrees to betray him and the Romans soldiers notified. Jesus takes his entourage into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Interestingly, his closest followers are asked to be in prayer. Instead, they sleep. Jesus prays that this cup might pass from him. And then he prays, “Not my will but yours be done.”
I noticed something that I hadn’t really seen before. He calls on his disciples to pray that they would not be tempted. I could not help but wonder if somehow Jesus wondered about his own temptation? He is strengthened by an angel and he prays more earnestly until his sweat became blood drops.
Was Jesus facing temptation even then? Mel Gibson seemed to think so in his portrayal of Jesus in the Garden. And I have to agree.
However, temptation is defeated a fourth time and this time by prayer.
5. Jesus on the Cross. (Luke 23:39; Matthew 27:42-43)
Perhaps the most vicious of the temptation came when Jesus was on his deathbed.
First, people passing by were saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God.”
Second, the Jewish leaders were saying, “He saved others but he can’t save himself. He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”
Third, the criminal taunts Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save us and save yourself!”
Jesus overcomes temptation on this occasion by staying focused on the prize. He gives of himself as a sacrifice for sin and to him he has gone too far to turn back now. Earlier Jesus had told Peter as Peter tried to defend him by cutting off a Romans soldier’s ear by saying: “Do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53
Conclusion: VICTORY OVER SIN.
And maybe its here that I pause to challenge everyone here about temptation. Jesus faced the same kind of temptation to short-cut his way to God’s will. But folks, there is no short-cut to God’s future for you, his will for your life or for you to be holy as he is holy.
The British journalist, Malcolm Muggeridge, says it well: “Jesus had to but give a nod of agreement and he could have constructed [Christianity], not on four shaky Gospels and a defeated man nailed on a Cross, but on a basis of sound socio-economic planning and principles… Every utopia could have been brought to pass, every hope realized and every dream made to come true… Instead he turned the offer down on the ground that only God could be worshipped.”
As we partake of the Lord’s supper I must ask: What about you? Are you striving to do life as you see fit or as God sees fit? Are you looking to your own will and way or to God’s will and way? Are you facing the facts of sin in your life for which you need forgiveness and cleansing?
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” “There is none righteous, no not one.” These verses truly describe the condition of the human heart before coming to Christ. But perhaps there is a brother or sister who has been struggling with temptation and have been hammered by evil in their life.
Now is the time to seek God for cleansing. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
You see, Jesus knew that the only way for sinful humanity to be set free from sin would be by his perfect sacrifice on the cross. We could not be saved otherwise. Jesus’ faithfulness in the face of dazzling temptation proved him faithful to you. And now you can claim 1 John 1:9 as yours: “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus gives us an EXAMPLE of how we must live as his disciples. What is IT that the Holy Spirit wants you to have total victory over?
Through Jesus Christ -and him only- do we have the answer to the temptations that come our way. Through Him we have the POWER and the TESTIMONY to be victors.
Revelation 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
· Confess your sins. There is no other first step. Whatever it is you are dealing with surrender that issue to our Lord. In confession you are determined that this is a turning away from sin. “If we confess our sins, 1 John 1:9a
· Believe that He will forgive you of your sins. Jesus paid the price for your sins. His death on the cross was the perfect sacrifice. “…he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins…” 1 John 1:9b
· Accept His cleansing of your heart. “and cleanse us from all sin.” 1 John 1:9c
· Walk in His steps. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) There is a restoration within the family of God as well as with our heavenly Father. Something miraculous happens to us. We long to be into God’s word as well as be around God’s people and participate in the worship of God.
“But there was no rescue, no miracle, no easy, painless path. For Jesus to save others, quite simple, he could not save himself. That fact, he must have known as he faced Satan in the desert.” Philip Yancey The Jesus I Never Knew
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