Timeless Truths. The Way of God

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 

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. 

The devil said to him, 

“If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 

And he said to him, 

“I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 

For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 

Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:1-13

Luke is a very skilled writer.
Luke's Gospel is written to the Gentiles [non-Jews] 

In Chapters 1-3, Jesus says nothing about Himself. There are several testimonies about Him.

• Angels (Gabriel 1:26-35; at Bethlehem 2:10-11)
• Simeon (2:25-35)
• Anna (2:36-38)
• Mary (1:46-55)
• John the Baptist (3:16-17)

Jesus does no little public ministry in chapters 1 and 2.

As Jesus headed out of the Jordan River after His baptism, He must have wondered what His ministry was to be.

The Scripture for today is titled "The Temptation/Testing of Jesus" in most translations.

A question is common.

"Was Jesus, the Son of God, actually tempted?" 

OR 

"Is this 'event' figurative or metaphoric?"

The temptations were real!

Rocks to Bread

It was possible for Christ to feed all people for all time. Jesus' physical body had to be hungry after the time in the desert.

This is a frontal attack by Satan.

Offering the Nations

Jesus' purpose was to save the souls of men, not the governments.

Satan offers Him both.

Temple Pinnacle

Rabbi's in Jerusalem looked to the pinnacle every day.

They were searching for Messiah.

Angles sent by God to save Him would have cemented Jesus' as the Messiah in the minds of the Jews.

Luke continues after the temptations.

Chapters 1-8 describe activities.

Chapter 9 is the pivotal chapter. 

From Chapter 9 through His arrest in Gethsemane (22:65), Luke describes who Christ. 

Imagine Jesus standing in the wilderness with a rock in one hand and a towel in the other.

He is thinking about his choices

Rock: Worldly fame. Glory of Israel.

Towel: Servanthood. Glory of God.

God is more about more than getting us into heaven.

He is about living a lifestyle that shows a servant's heart.

How do you serve?
Is it with a servant's heart or for glory?

What does a church look like when it lives the towel choice?

Special thanks to Pastor John Parrish for the primary teachings used in this post. You can read more of his teachings in his blog:  http://www.gdalenaz.org/page4/blog-2/

Next Timeless Truth: "Don't Touch"
Follow me on Twitter: @CRDowningAuthor and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CRDowningAuthor

My website is: www.crdowning.com

I'd appreciate your feedback as a comment on Blogger!