Session 11 Baptism and Jesus is Tempted In The Wilderness

 John the Baptist Preaching repentance: repentance means to turn away from sin (what Baptism is about). John was called the voice in the desert.  He lived a very simple life: camel hair robes, ate locust and wild honey.  He preached against Herod and his family’s corruption and called the Israelites to turn to God. 2

 Baptism as an Epiphany Epiphany = something that reveals who Jesus really is – the Son of God.  As Jesus is baptized a voice from heaven says “this is my Beloved Son…” and a dove flies over Jesus.  Why do it? Jesus shows that he is obedient to the Father. Shows his followers that Baptism is good! 3

 After being baptized, Jesus is led to the desert by the Spirit. Spends 40 days and nights there. Symbolic?!?! Tempted by Satan with 3 things” 1.Bread 2.Protection 3.A Throne All of these temptations end up telling us what kind of Messiah Jesus would be. 4

Mat 4:3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" ◦ Jesus uses scripture to fight the devil! BUT, what does this reference mean? 5

Jesus had the power to change the stones to bread but did not use His power selfishly ◦ We live by God’s word – the way God does things in the universe. Jesus says here that he trusts in God first – God will provide. 6

 Jesus refuses Satan’s challenge to Him to misuse His power to escape the pain of hunger, human weakness.  This is a messiah who is not going to change the natural order of the world. The Messiah will suffer!  If He cheated hunger maybe He would cheat pain of scourging or the cross 7

 Mat 4:5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON THIER HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" 8

Satan says: “Throw yourself down because God will protect you.” Satan says: “surely as the messiah the heavenly host will protect you! Right?” Here we see that Jesus is being challenged to show he is the messiah! The Messiah will control the angels and will be served by them… wont they? 9

◦ Testing his true divinity? ◦ Jesus doesn’t look divine. By all accounts, he’s just a human. He was born, and he will die. Satan asks Jesus to prove himself.  "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test…”  Jesus’ divinity cant be proven. Faith is needed. 10

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 11

He is tempting Jesus to be the kind of messiah people wanted him to be; take over the world, rule over it, and defeat the Romans! 12 Jesus says: My Kingdom is not of this earth! He is not going to be the kind of Messiah the World wants him to be.

 Satan said you can have nations now without going to the cross! Take the easy way. Don’t suffer. Don’t Die!  BUT! No shortcuts to glory for Jesus! ◦ JESUS IS FULLY HUMAN. HE GOES THROUGH ALL THE THINGS WE DO: TEMPTATION, SUFFERING, DEATH… 13