Friday, February 24, 2012

Jesus' Coming Out Party!

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.  And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
"It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' "
Matthew 4:1-4  NASB

It's Jesus' Coming Out Party!

He's just been baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  The Father has confirmed in public witness, that Jesus is His beloved Son in Whom He is well pleased.  A party should be thrown, right?

WRONG!

After this amazing event, Jesus is immediately led by the Spirit into a barren wasteland to meet the ultimate in fallen creation - head on - mano e mano - the Devil.  It's that same ol' "Scratch" trying to eternally secure our fallen state by trying to "re-create" man's fall in the Garden of Eden.  Only this time, he takes on the Savior of our fall.

Interesting that Satan's form is not noted to be that of a serpent as in the Garden.  What sets this encounter apart from the first is that here, this meeting is planned by God - and takes place in the desert - not a garden.

The original "Desert Storm"!

Creation v.s. Creator.

In the first encounter, Eve very feebly quotes Scripture against the cunning serpent.  Satan, very effectively, twists the Scripture like a pretzel, introducing confusion and ultimately causing the Fall of Man.  Eve's problem, along with Adam's, was that even though they heard from God, they still weren't fully convicted.  Didn't have enough Scripture in them.

Perhaps, they were too busy tending the Garden.  Perhaps they were too distracted with all the newness of Creation, making Satan's deception seem like child's play, like fishing in a barrel, ducks on the pond. 

Satan was able to snatch away the Word that was in their hearts and replaced it with a lie.  The rest is history - His Story.

Back to the opening scene, though - the battle in the desert.  Let us be firmly convinced of this fact:  The Scripture - the very concrete, written Word, directly from the Breath of God, the Holy Spirit - tells us that Jesus is not only fully man, but also fully God.  He is Creator and King.  He is from the beginning, he is the  End.

Just a thought:  Jesus, being Creator - as well as Savior - He is the ONLY SELF-MADE MAN!

Jesus truly has His stuff together!

"In Him dwells the fullness of God in bodily form."
Colossians 2:9

He has been led by the Spirit into the battle.  Exercising complete control, even in His self-imposed weakness from fasting, He has full discipline of Body, Soul, and Mind.  He definitely has his wits about Him.

Satan gets in His face and twists the Scripture like a Twizzler.  But, this time - he does so in the face of the One Who wrote the Book! 

Jesus tells Satan that man (us in Christ) does not live by the Garden of Eden, with all of its newness, food, clothing, pleasure, shelter/security, entertainment, etc. - alone - but, by every God breathed, God-written-down-Word that has proceeded from the same mouth that said, "Let there be Light!"

We heed the Creator - NOT the creation!

Jesus unleashes the first atomic bomb at our adversary - two more to go!  May I invite you all to be still and enjoy the spiritual KABOOM!
 How do you read it?  What do you think?


Sharing Jesus' Coming Out Party this week with:
Brag on God Fridays at Beholding Glory

5 comments:

  1. Ed, thanks for linking up! I really appreciate how you think and wittiness!

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  2. I've always loved this story of Jesus. The term "coming out party" made me smile. I'm so thankful Satan was defeated--it gives me courage to "face off" with Satan myself. The same Jesus who defeated Satan in the wilderness is the Jesus who stands with me in the face of temptation.

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  3. Great post, Ed. I can vividly remember the moment that I discovered the TIMING of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness - right after a victorious, glorious moment. Satan so often brings valleys of temptation right after a "mountaintop" experience. His arrows are finely honed to our most vulnerable times.

    However, last time I checked, those puny arrows are no match for the Sword of the Spirit!

    KABOOM!

    GOD BLESS!

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  4. Thank you for sharing this insight. It proves again that God's ways are not like man's ways.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

    ReplyDelete
  5. I appreciate your shepherd theme for this blog. A lifetime theme of mine...Great thoughts on Jeus'temptation. I'm so glad he is our perfect example. Enjoying the KABOOM of our victory in Him. Enjoyed the music on your site also.
    Blessings.

    ReplyDelete

I welcome your comments and conversation as we enter into His Story together!

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