divine power over all creation. But Jesus would
have compromised His humanity with the miracle.
Instead, Jesus met this and each temptation using
the same means available to even the simplest fol-
lower of Christ: He answered by quoting Scripture.
Jerusalem, which towered 200 feet above the floor
below, Satan challenged Jesus to jump off to prove
God's protection of Him. Through this sensational
act Jesus could have
proven to the crowds gath-
ered that here was a kind
of Superman. But Jesus re-
fused. He replied, "You
shall not tempt the Lord
your God" (4:7). Yes, God
would have stopped Jesus
mid-plunge, but in doing so
Christ's whole mission
would have been compro-
mised. The problem with
special effects, Hollywood
has learned, is that people
have an appetite for more
and more. Instead of salva-
tion for the world, it would
be entertainment for the
masses.
still. Knowing that Christ
came to bring all the people
of the world back to God,
Satan offered a seductive
remedy. "The devil took
Him to a very high moun-
tain, and showed Him the
kingdoms of the world and
the glory of them; and he
said to Him, `All these I will
give you if you will fall
down and worship me'" (vs. 8,9). To win the world
without the cross! Jesus knew the agony He was
destined to face and for a short moment of submis-
sion, it could all have been avoided. The devil of-
fered what seemed a great prize at a small cost.
found in the Scripture: "Then Jesus said to him,
ship the Lord your God and Him only shall you
serve'" (vs. 10). Jesus could never give to Satan
that which only God had a right to claim. No other
created thing is to be adored and worshipped.
world--the devil is only a squatter. Not one square
inch belongs to him. It is why we can boldly sing,
"This is my Father's world." Soon enough, the
rightful ownership of God will be asserted and
away like a lean-to in a
hurricane.
could because he knew
that nothing less would do.
Judas sold his soul for 30
pieces of silver. But often
we settle for far less than
the kingdoms of this world.
A few hours of sleep on a
Sunday morning, a job that
pays a little more, an act
that helps us fit in with the
crowd. It is easy to despise
God's great gift, as did
Esau, who sold his
birthright for a bowl of
beans (Gen. 25:29-34).
the devil that "the devil left
him" (vs. 11). In the book of
James we read, "Resist the
devil, and he will flee from
you" (4:7). When a child of
God stands firm against
temptation, the devil has
to retreat, at least for a
while. There is a sweet rest
that comes after the battle.
power of God! You will grow stronger and the devil
will take a beating.