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Part 2 - Just Jump

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How Jesus Fought Temptation

the Series

Do you remember ever hearing or reading about how Jesus was tempted by Satan while He was in the desert for 40 days? If not, I hope you will go back and read #1 of this short series to see how Satan tempted Jesus by trying to get Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus rebuked Satan with scriptures saying in Matthew 4:4, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Have you ever wondered why Jesus being the Son of God did not just turn Satan into stones? Why just not destroy Him right there? Why did God have to even allow Satan to show up in the first place? In #1, I gave you a little bit of that answer if you want to go back and read it again. I also mentioned that just because you quote a scripture for that particular temptation at that time does not mean that Satan will flee from you forever. You have to be willing to follow what you say. If you do not mean it, you will not do it. Let your actions follow your words!!

Here is where it gets a little scarier if you will. The scriptures does not give an exact time from the first temptation to the second, but what I am gathering from reading, is it's almost immediately afterwards. Let us see what Satan does next, while in Matthew 4:5 it says, "Then the devil took Him (Jesus) to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the scriptures say, 'He will order His angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hand so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone', Jesus responded, the scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God'."

OK, I have to pause here for a second. So now Satan is quoting scripture??? Why on earth would Satan even know any scriptures? I would like for you to read Psalm 91:1-10 right now please........ Did you read it? So obviously Satan knows if we put our trust in God, He will protect us based upon those scriptures, right? Now watch where Satan quotes the scriptures in the next lines, in Psalm 91:11 it says, "For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone."

Here is what I thought was even more interesting. If you continue you reading in Psalm 91, Verse 13 it says, "You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!" Who is considered to be a Lion and waiting to devour you? Who is considered a snake in scriptures? You guessed it!!! It is kind of interesting if Satan knows scriptures why he left that part out. It was not obviously to help Jesus. If you read the scriptures 1-10 He did not mentioned those either, because it was all about trusting and knowing God would protect you. Satan saw Jesus fighting with scriptures, but once more, Satan proves to be deceitful with his. Satan also does not include the following scriptures in Psalm 91:14 that says, "The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation."

I know I jumped around with these points, but I felt it was important to show you how Satan is fighting with the words of God as well. How did Jesus respond to Satan? He also went back to scripture to rebuke Satan's lies. Jesus quoted in Deuteronomy 6:16, "You must not test your Lord your God as you did when you complained at Massah." I felt it was important to write out the entire Verse, but thought it was interesting to note Jesus knew exactly what to say to Satan without adding the part, "As you did when you complained at Massah". 

Please know my heart in this observation, but I just love seeing how Jesus is so all knowing, and how He has the authority to add and take away the words in scriptures in order to attack Satan. He sees and speaks only the relevance of this verse. I want to be honest here, but it’s a day later when I decided to go back and rewrite my closing for this devotional. The reason is because I was getting into uncharted waters, and felt the Holy Spirit telling me not to go any further with my observation. I do feel it's important to discuss the relevance to knowing the entire scriptures and the true meaning behind them. I will write a devotional in a few days concerning this, but for this one I will leave it be.

In closing; Jesus has endured two temptation one after another, and Satan has no plans on stopping. You will see tomorrow how Jesus deals with the third and final temptation while in the desert. 

God bless, and keep sharpening your sword,

E.


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