Commit fully to God the Father (Luke 4a)

Jesus committed himself fully to God the Father

Luke 4:1-13

Key verse 1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

I did not have much self confidence in me as I was growing up. I felt always short of something and fell behind my peers. But when I passed my last exam, the specialty board, for the first time I gained my confidence. I achieved something and I have knowledge and power as anyone might be proud of their achievements.

Passing the test leaves us a great filling. It boosts our faith and builds our confidence. In this newly built confidence, we feel that we can face off all challenges and hardship of this world. So it is vital for us to pass through the test with good scores; the passing grade. Well done! You have succeeded in it!

On the other hand, failure leaves us a bad taste in our mouth, lasting so long. But human being failed and failed and failed. It has been like this since the fall of Adam. This failure flows through our blood and we, human beings, become so used to it that even we considered it as part of our normal life. Even the first Son Israel that God had chosen, failed miserably to meet up to God.

Considering the failure of men, Jesus’ success provides us great encouragement and gives us a new insight to win the victory where so many failed. Ultimate success is to be justifiably the children of God. 

As we look into Jesus’ fist battle, it is good to lay a foundation of our understanding on Jesus. As we learned from the last week message, Jesus inherited full humanity. i.e. what he had was what Adam had, what we have in all humanity, though he was the Son of God. Simply it means that he get tired and angry, and upset and has desires passions, all things that we have, he had in his humanity.  Yet he did not fail but succeeded in his walk with God and became genuinely worthy to be called the Son of God.

As we explore what Jesus did, God may bless us wisdom and power to overcome all ungodliness so that each of us may succeed in our walk with the Lord.

1.            Jesus was tempted in the wilderness (1-2)

Soon after the baptism by John, the Holy Spirit came down on Jesus and God the father was very pleased with him, saying that you are my son, whom I love.  God was so pleased with Jesus because Jesus decided to give his life for all sinners.

Soon after this, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Most likely it was Judean desert. In this desert, there are very little shrubs and many areas are covered with sand dunes. Wild animals may roam and scanty water. It is very hot during the day heating up over 100 degree and at night temp may go down below 60’s. In this condition Jesus did not eat for 40 days. How can we describe his condition at the end of these forty days of fasting? His mouth was parched up and his strength was drained out totally. So he became totally exhausted.  Actually Jesus’ life was almost the end of the roll, on the verge of death. This was an intense suffering physically and spiritually. His entire humanity was put on temptations in its edge. In such situation as this, the devil tempted Jesus in three ways. 

2.            Three temptations (3-12)

a. Temptation of food

The devil told Jesus to make bread from this stone. Since Jesus had power to do so, he could do if he was willing. Also Jesus was extremely hungry and if he did not eat in a matter of hours, then he might succumb to death. So food was essential necessity to sustain life of man. So what the devil said made a perfect sense. It seemed to be the way to get himself out of this misery.

We feel that food is a necessity for life. Our physical body is sustained by food. No food, no life. So men’s mind is framed under such limitations or binding principle of life.  This is the true reality of all human beings under God’s judgment (Gen 3:19.)

It deals with essential necessities of life; such as food, housing, clothing and basic sustenance that sustains life itself.

Such vulnerability is well seen Jean Valjean, a character in a novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo in 1862. Jean could not bear watching children suffering from hunger.  So in order to feed the baby, he stole a piece of bread. This eventually led his life into a long prison sentence.  

Even after few several hours without food , we become hungry and we feel compelled to do something in order to get food. Like this, food is the essential of our lives. Buying food is the first priority when we get paid every other week, esp when the pay is so little.  Our lives are so dependent on food. So to many, it became the first importance for their life goal. The devil knew this weakness of men. We are driven by this demand. How much more could it be justified to make bread when he went without food for 40 days?  At the brink of his death, Jesus answered this.

V4

Actually this is a quote from Deut 6:16. God gave this word to Israel as they were at the door to the Promised Land. Here they were looking on the land flowing milk and honey. There would be abundance of food and other supplies for life. God foresaw the problem that the abundance of the food might cause to his people. They would surely think that as long as they have food, they could feel safe and  forget God as the true supplier of their needs.  In order to bring changes in such ‘false idea’, God led them to the desert where there was no food and let them suffer hunger. Then God rained down manna from heaven so that they may know it is God who gives them food to sustain their lives. Manna came down by God’s word sustained their lives in the desert for 40 years. In this way God demonstrated that he is the supplier of all her food and he is the one who will and can sustain their lives even in the land of God’s promise. God message is clear.  God is the source of life in its entirety. Ultimately it is pointing out that God is the giver and sustainer of life, even including our physical lives.

Jesus after 40 days without food was the worst condition that ever a living person may experience. Jesus’ body demanded food. That demand was so intense. But Jesus in his spirit did not yield to the demands of physical body and entrusted his entire being in God’s hand.  Yet Jesus clearly declared that life is not decided by solely having food or not. He upheld God as the sustainer of his life as well as all lives. At the same time, Jesus saying is that food is not what determines how long we should or would live. It is God who determines our life.

How can this truth be played out in our lives? To those who feel that food should be the first priority of life, Jesus said this in Matt 6:31-33

 Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In the depth of this teaching is the same truth as we found in Deut 6:16. God is the sustainer of our lives and we are to trust Him even to the point of death. Counting God as the life, the source of our lives is to honor Him as our Lord. In this way Jesus honored God as the Lord and the owner of his life. This is the true picture of son of God.

 b. Temptation of the world and its splendor

He took Jesus to a high place where he could see the whole world in a glance. Within his view were all the kingdoms of the world. This was the world that Jesus eventually had to take hold of according to the will of His father God.  But at this moment, the devil offered this:

V66 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

The devil offered him all the authority and splendor of these kingdoms. To all men, the authority and splendors of the world and its kingdom are great temptations. It is because we all want to be great, honorable and powerful and glorious.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve with this word;  5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

So when she entertained Satan’s word, this came to her heart;  6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Gen 3:5-6 NIV)

She was after knowledge, wisdom and power. These are inherent desires of our human being. When the presidency is put up for election, many candidates shoot for this position of power,  authority and splendor. During the process of election, there are many struggles and fights.  When one becomes a president of US, many perks comes along with it –white house, chef, limousine, air force one, barber, personal guards…life-long pension and security.  So it is very attractive to many men.

So one may say ‘if I can be the president of US, then I am willing to do anything.’

Here in Jesus’ full view is the power, here is the authority, and here are all the splendors that this world can offer.  The devil was willing to give him right there. But there was one condition. If he bows down to worship the devil, he would give all that he was seeing.  This seems to be now a big deal. He could do just one and get the world that he wanted and planned to have. There was one man fell into such trap.

In order to win the election battle, Rich Nixon directed to install a listening device on the Democratic Party office through burglary.  We do not know how much the information he got from this listening device helped his election. To him at that time, a little thing, just listening to the other party, was acceptable in order to get the power and glory and splendor of the presidency of the US, the most powerful nation on the earth. Anyhow he won the presidency in 1972. But eventually this scheme caught up with him. But in the end, his entire presidency was on the line and he was forced to resign.

In this way he gave his soul to the ungodly way of life. The desire to have the world becomes the first priority and to do so, he was willing to compromise his/her basic principle of life. Such temptation is not unique to him. We all face such temptations.;  ‘I can give a little foot hole for devil just for now and then I will be rewarded great; gaining power authority and splendor of the world and then I will remain clean and pure… ‘ For better good, little evil is ok. For better success, I can put aside God for now’.  These are the kind of mindset for many. But Jesus answered clearly, v8 "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.

For Jesus getting the world and its powers and splendor is not the priority in any circumstance. The first importance is worshipping God. There is only one Lord. There is only who is worthy of our worship, God the creator of heaven and earth, the father of Jesus.

When we look into the depth of the choice that the devil suggested, it becomes clearer why yielding to such temptation is so bad.

First, when one is attracted to the offer of the devil, then he is confused on the priority of his life. Are the authority, power and splendors of the world can never be the first priority in our lives. God and his will and the glory in him shall be the first priority.

Second, there is a clear compromise in the way of life; the way of devil is different from the way of God. Devil’s way has no truth, and lie is the way of his life. No godliness, no love,

Third, when one listens to the devil, he becomes a child of devil. He cannot serve God and be true son of God. The devil becomes his boss and lord. His fate will be with the devil and eternal judgment. He will surely lose his place in the kingdom of God. Again, what was Jesus’ answer?

8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "

Worship him only and serve him only. Here are two ways how we are to relate with God. Worshipping and serving him are only proper attitude toward God. No other ways should any one relate to him. Jesus called his disciples friends. This was to show Jesus endearment to his disciples. But no one can call God friends. Never should any one relate to him as one of his friends. One of the big thing is to uphold his authority as the Lord. The best form of honoring God in such way is to worship him. All the more so one should not test him of his love or demand him for love. He knows all things and loves us in all his best. His love is perfect and thorough though we may not think so.  One thing we know, we should not replace God for anything else.

1 John 2:16 For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

c. Testing of God’s love

At this time the devil led him to the highest point of the temple and tested Jesus. The temple was built by King Solomon. When he dedicated the temple to God, God said to King Solomon said this.

3 The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (1Ki 9:3 NIV)

Temple is the place where God’s mind, heart and eyes are. Here the devil told Jesus to throw himself down to see if God was keeping his promise to his son. The promise is in Ps 91. The back ground of this Psalm is Israel’s experience in the desert. In the desert God protected his son, the nation Israel, and they did not suffer loss, not by hostile environments, not by enemies. God assured his son of sure protection. Likewise the meaning of this Psalm implies also to coming Messiah, the only Son of God. In the relationship between Father and son, Son is surely assured of the protection from the Father as it was spelled out in Psalm 91. So by quoting, this psalm, the devil is implying that if Jesus is the Son, then God should protect him from all harms, including the fall.  

God is true and is worthy of our trust. As God promised in Psalm 91, God the Father will surely protect his one and only Son Jesus.

But if Jesus did so right there as the devil demanded, then God was to act at that time, at that place by the demand of his son.  Actually God should act by the demand of the devil.

If God would not, then God’s word would be not trust worthy and God’s love for his son Jesus is seriously doubted. If God would protect the son then on this test, the trustworthiness of God’s word and God love for his son Jesus will be proven unambiguously.

But Jesus answered v.12  "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "

It is a quote from Deut  6:16. This word was given concerning an event that Israel really tested God if God would act at the demand of his people Israel. It was an incident at Masah.

Exo 17:1-7.  At Massah there was no water and the became so thirsty. It seemed that their lives were pushed to the limit. So in impatience, they quarreled with Moses. In anger they were about to stone him. They took such an action that went far beyond complaining and murmuring. This rash action was aimed to get immediate God’s attention, demanding God’s action right away. In this way they tested God if God was listening to them or if God was paying attention to their needs or not. It was like a three old boy breaking out in fits and rages in order to get what he wanted from his parents. The key thing is the fact that they forced God to act on behalf of them, not by God’s own accord and will but on their demand.

Though God is their father and they were God’s child, this is not the trust or expression of love their father. It is an encroachment on God’s authority and will. God is sovereign.  God has his plan, and his wisdom is far greater than his children. God alone has ‘autonomy’ and his will to exercise solely on his own accord.

Jesus was in a very similar condition as Israel was in the desert. After 40 days without food, his life was pushed to its limit. He was hungry, thirsty, and became so exhausted. Truly Jesus needs God’s attention right away. There seemed to be no time for Jesus at all. Even if Jesus was in such dire condition, God the father was not paying attention to him, then if he kills himself in such way as the devil suggested might catch God’s attention. If such thing happens, then God might not have much choice but to act immediately for his son Jesus, rescuing him from all of these miseries. This is what the devil was challenging Jesus to do. This is abusing God’s love for his son. It is dishonoring God and his authority. My need, my situation and my feeling and my will is more important than God and his will and his plan for my life; We can ask God honestly and sincerely. We can fast and pray. But we shall not force God to act on our demand.  This is denying accepting God’s sovereign will and God’s transcendent wisdom as well as God’s perfect love for his son. At its root, this is dishonoring God and an expression of one’s doubt on God’s protection and love and his perfect plan.

Jesus answered this:  v12, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "

Often such situation where we are put under is so harsh and so painful and so unbearable that we like to resolve as quickly as possible. If God is right there with us, then we like to get his attention immediately by all means.  Our love and trust to God is never a kind of things that force God to act on our demand. Our love to the Lord is to uphold his authority, to honor his word and his unlimited wisdom and his plan, and to believe in his perfect love.

When Nathan got sick, he went through two major operations. This left him with some problems even now. He would not chew well and his verbal expressions are very limited. Reb is struggling with these problems as she takes care of him every day. She wondered what God’s wisdom is in this. As we wish, if God would take care of him right way, healing him completely, it would be good. But this is our wisdom. God’s perfect will and wisdom is far different from ours. We can ask, plead with God and wait and wait and pray so that in God’s will and in his time God may do his work.

Same is true to our job seeking. As we wish, we like to have a perfect job right way. Then we will devote ourselves to God’s word and God’s work better. But this is our wisdom and our need. But God is perfect in his wisdom and in his will. The job that is perfect may not be what we want now. When we trust him and love him, we mean to trust his perfect wisdom and perfect love for us, even if we do not have what we want now.

One thing, we are God’s loved children. Our relationship with Father God is solid by the grace of Jesus. We are not to doubt even if we are under such a dire condition. Even if we are pushed to the limit of our endurance and to the threshold of our patience, yet we must not put the Lord to the test but to love him even to the point of death.

This is evident here in Jesus’ answer. Also it is evident in the life that Jesus lived. At the cross, Jesus was in excruciating pain and suffering. But he did not make any attempt to call down God’s power or demanded by complaining like the people of Israel at Massah. Though it was caused by the hands of evil and unbelieving people, though the pain and suffering was too unbearable and beyond what he could bear, though he had power to call for God’s judgment on these people and to rescue him right away, he did not do. He did not test God for demanding an immediate action but he left it all to God His father’s will and his discretion. EVEN His life!   So he cried out, my God, My God, why have you forsaken me!

This is faith and this is true honor to God the Lord, this is true expression our trust in God’s love. So this faith earned him resurrection and life and rewarded him with glory. He is now sitting at the right hand of God.

Summery

There are three human needs.  These must be met in one way or the other. First one is the basic things that sustain our lives, such as food and clothing. Second is our need of our mind and intellect. These are set on the worldly power, glory and splendors. The third one is our spiritual need that demands the love from our real father God.

We must accept that these are true reality of humanity in sin and we are gullible as long as we love in our present life.  We have to acknowledge these weaknesses and must admit that we are gullible in these areas. As long as we have life on the earth we will remain vulnerable.
Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

The temptation is whole and thorough in the sense that all these temptations will put our lives on the line. As long as we have life, such temptations will make its chances through cunning devices of Satan.

To win against such temptations, we must be able to entrust our lives in its entirety on God. It is only by faith. The trust built in God-son relationship is the only antidote to fend off such temptations. Any things less that genuine faith will surely lead us to fail in these temptations.

The devil will constantly offer bad substitutes to us so that we may not choose God. The primary goal of him is to make us subject to him and his principle. But as we noted, God will meet all of these three needs since we are his children. In this Father-son relationship, God promised to meet all our needs and actually is meeting our needs even now.

The devil, in all these three temptations, challenged Jesus based on ‘Father-son relationship in love and trust’ As long as we put our trust God as  our real father and source of our lives, even to the point of death, then all these ‘temptations’ may not cause us much trouble.

God called us to be his children through his son Jesus’ blood. If he did so, what else could he not do for us, his precious children?

1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.