Matthew 4:2-4

The devil is no gentleman.  He attacks when we are weak.  He takes advantage of every opportunity.

While seeking the Father's direction at the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus fasted for 40 days.  I believe that fasting is sometimes beneficial spiritually.  It can clear our minds and clarify our priorities and renew our spirits and increase our intimacy with God as we purposefully subdue the flesh and submit to the Spirit.  Yet, there is a downside.  Fasting makes us physically weak.  After 40 days, Jesus was weak and vulnerable.  This is when the devil showed up.

The temptation that the devil suggested was subtle and attractive and seemingly innocent.  He simply suggested that Jesus use His powers and abilities as God to satisfy His hunger and physical need:  turn the stones into bread and eat.  Obviously, that would have been simple enough for Jesus to do.  We might even wonder what would the harm have been?  Who cares if Jesus made stones into bread when He was hungry.  If I could, I would do that.  You would to.  Only I would have made some sticks into roast beef to go on it.  Why not?

Here is the problem.  Here is the heart of the temptation.  The devil knew that in order for God's justice and wrath against sin to satisfied, Jesus had to be fully human, sinless and undeserving of death.  He who had no sin, must become sin so that we could become righteous.

If Jesus had put aside His humanity and played the God card -if He operated in His divinity instead of operating in humanity controlled and led by the Spirit, He would no longer be eligible to be our Redeemer.  If He had used His God powers to satisfy His human needs, He could no longer be our High priest who in every respect understands our weakness.  It would no longer be true that He was human in every way and was tempted just as we are and yet remained pure.  Giving in to this particular temptation would have left us without a Savior.

Thank You, Jesus, for resisting the subtleties of the tempter, and remaining obedient to Father.  Because You resisted, we have hope and a future.