I'd heard the story a hundred times. Jesus received the Holy Spirit and was then sent into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. For 40 days and nights, He was without food. Hungry, famished, and a bit exhausted, I'm sure, Jesus was asked three pivotal and life-changing questions:
"If you're the Son of God..."
"If you're the Son of God..."
"If you're the Son of God..."
In three repetitive accusations, Satan tells Jesus to "tell these stones to become bread" (Matthew 4:3, NIV), "throw yourself down" (Matthew 4:6, NIV), and "bow down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9, NIV). It's interesting that when Satan attacked Jesus with these questions, he started with Christ's identity. I can't help but wonder if he does the same with us.
If Satan can attack our identity, that is, who we are and who we believe we are, how much deeper are the wounds and casualties we suffer? This reveals that knowing our identity is in Christ is not enough. We must know and believe in the power of His Word. How do I know this?
Though Satan starts every question with "If you're the Son of God," he begins with the individual. He tells Jesus to turn these stones into bread. As the Son of God, Jesus could've very well completed that miracle. Yet, Jesus used the power of God's Word (Scripture) to rebuke the enemy: "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’" (Matthew 4:4, NIV).
Here, Jesus answered the enemy's question with poise and intelligence. Not only did He deny His flesh and capabilities, but He pointed to the power of the Word of God. As Christians, we must know our identity and the Word of God. But again, these two things are not enough. We must also know Scripture in context.
If you believe that Satan doesn't know Scripture, just look at Matthew 4:5-7: "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’" (Matthew 4:5-7, NIV).
Most of us picture Satan with a pitchfork and red flaming arrows. The reality is that he comes disguised as everything we've ever wanted, and as a deceiver, his goal is to twist, manipulate, and deceive us from understanding the truth of the Word of God. This is why Jesus responded to Satan by saying that yes, God can rescue me, but I'm not going to test Him. Jesus knew God's authority even as His Son.
As we've learned to maintain our identity in Christ, know the Scriptures, and use them in context, we can guard our hearts from losing our souls. As Mark 8:36 emphasizes, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (KJV).
The cost of losing your soul means you will lose everything. Although Satan offers Jesus "everything" in Matthew 4:8-10, Jesus knew that was a cost He wasn't willing to purchase: "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’" (NIV). If Satan tried to test and tempt Jesus to diminish His faith, surely he would try to do the same to ours.
Satan offers us "food" we tend to think will satisfy. This includes good and bad things: a job, spouse, money, fame, sex, idols, enjoyment, and hobbies. But as Jesus reminds us, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God (Deuteronomy 8:3). Could it be this is also why the Lord's prayer tells us to ask God for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11)? We can't live on the things this world offers, even as much as they entice us.
Satan doesn't just entice us, but he's a master at challenging and threatening us. Why else would he tell Jesus to throw Himself off a cliff? This might sound like a long shot, but Matthew 4:5-6 makes me think of suicidal and or intrusive thoughts and feelings. Telling someone to jump off a cliff would ultimately kill them. While we know Satan was testing Jesus' allegiance and commitment to the Lord, it makes me wonder how he tempts and deceives us today.
Satan also offers us "it all." It's pretty evident, but Satan has interwoven this throughout society. You can "have it all" if you follow this diet, buy these clothes, date these people, and engage in these habits. The list goes on and on. But if you choose "it all" over what's holy and sacred, you'll quickly realize you're still empty and broken inside. Not only that, but it'll cost you your soul. Jesus knew this in Matthew 4, and it's why so many people are unhappy and unsatisfied with life today.
Apart from clinical anxiety and depression, things in this world won't make us happy or feel fulfilled/satisfied. This is why despite what Satan offers us, our identity must be rooted in Christ and who He says we are, the Word of God, and the context of that Word. Even the greatest food, riches, fame, and "all" will leave us empty inside if we don't have Christ as the base of our firm and solid, eternal foundation (1 Corinthians 3:9-14).
As we live, we must remember that Satan also knows Scripture—and this is why God tells us to write these things on our hearts. Bind them around our necks (Proverbs 3:3-6, Proverbs 6:21, NIV).
At the end of this story, I'm often reminded of one final question: Why did God allow Jesus to be tempted? Perhaps to show us that though He was fully God, He was also fully man. He would be tempted in the same way to relate to us, even though He would be without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). We have a model to follow. A model of someone who loved us enough to go through pain and trials so we could learn a lesson from one who walked in the wilderness.
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 5:14-16 (NIV)
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/PatrickPoendl