Chapter 4 – Temptation: Showdown in the Desert

Satan tempts us with what is closest to our heart. Satan is smart. Satan is efficient. Satan doesn’t waste his time on things that wouldn’t tempt us. He knows how to push all of the right buttons. He wouldn’t tempt me with fruit; he would tempt me with potato chips.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the chance to be more than what they were. Could they be like God? How ironic then for Satan to try to tempt Jesus in order to find out if He could be truly human? Satan didn’t tempt Jesus with Godhood. Satan tempted Jesus to USE His Godhood.

So then, is this Jesus’ hot button? Jesus came to Earth knowing that He could arrive with fanfare and angels and trumpets and power and glory. The masses would bow down to Him in fear. He could conquer the world in one fell swoop, serve the death blow to Satan and his minions and Heaven would reign on Earth once again.

Jesus was tempted, but He showed restraint. The author calls it the great miracle of restraint. Jesus did not come to win the world by force. He came to win the world with love. It is the world’s way to win by force. Hitler. Stalin. The Inquisition. Governments and religions force themselves upon the people. Not Jesus.

Jesus was offered the opportunity to be the People’s Messiah by turning stone into bread and feeding the masses. Jesus was offered the opportunity to be the Jew’s Messiah by becoming the High Priest of the temple. Jesus was offered the opportunity to be the Royal Messiah by conquering all kingdoms. But Jesus chose to be the Suffering Messiah – the One who chose the cross instead of the crown.

The temptation to show His Godhood followed Him throughout His ministry and all the way to the cross. Show us that you are who you say you are and we will believe. It is not that Jesus couldn’t show us that He is God. It is that Jesus chose not to show us that He is God. He came to TAKE our punishment – NOT just save us from it.

Jesus is what we are not. He is patient to win us through LOVE.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)