The Temptation of Jesus

Let’s jump right into Mark this morning. Mark wastes no time or paper as he moves from the baptism of Jesus to the temptation of Jesus, so neither will we! Mark chapter 1 verses 12 and 13.

Mark 1:12–13 ESV

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Once again, don't be fooled by Mark's brevity. Just like with Jesus' baptism as we saw last week, Jesus' temptation is far from insignificant. Mark may have used few words to describe it, but the words he did use have a potency to them which intensifies his account of Jesus' temptation.

There are two primary reasons for Mark including Jesus' temptation in his Gospel. First, to further explain why Christ came. As John so succinctly put it in his first letter:

1 John 3:8 ESV

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Or to put it in Christ's words, which Mark records later in Mark 3:27,

Mark 3:27 ESV

But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

The strong man in the Lord's teaching refers to Satan, Satan's house is this world, Satan’s goods are all who are under his power and influence, and the One who enters Satan's house, who binds him and plunders his goods is the Lord Jesus. Christ came to engage and destroy His enemy in battle. This relates to the second reason Mark includes Jesus' temptation: to assure His readers that victory over sin and freedom from Satan is possible through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to destroy the devil and to free captives from sin.

That would be a helpful way of understanding this passage.

Theme: The temptation of Jesus unveiled His saving mission to destroy the devil's works and deliver captives from sin.

Although Mark’s account of Jesus’ temptation is short, I promise you that it is very sweet. It assures us that when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have victory and power through Him and His indwelling Spirit to overcome sin, Satan, and Hell. This is the best of news to us who are so easily held captive to sin and ensnared by the devil’s traps. Satan can scheme, but the Son of God saves. The devil can tempt the foot to slip, but Jesus takes the hand to sustain.

Let these truths cause your soul to rest in the Savior Jesus Christ as we examine two major elements of His temptation as mentioned by Mark.

1. Jesus was constrained by the Spirit of God to go into the wilderness (v. 12)

The first element we discover is that Jesus was constrained by the Spirit of God to go into the wilderness. In verse 12, there are two things of importance we should notice as we consider Jesus being constrained by the Spirit.

Mark 1:12 ESV

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

Note firstly the providential timing as specified by the word “immediately”. Remember, this was Mark’s favorite word as he used it 46 times leading up to Jesus’ arrest and trial and then never again after Christ’s crucifixion. Every time we see this word “immediately” in this Gospel we should therefore see it as Mark pointing us to the climax of his writing: the suffering of the Savior on the cross to deliver sinners from sin, death, and judgment. And so, this word “immediately” is used to advance Mark’s aim in writing this Gospel.

Additionally, this word “immediately” at this particular point in the narrative, highlights the contrast between the baptism and temptation of Jesus. No sooner was Jesus baptized by the Jordan waters then He is baptized by fire in the Judean wilderness. Just as heaven was immediately opened to bless the Lord Jesus, so now hell is immediately opened to battle Him. Immediately, Jesus goes from being anointed by the dove to being attacked by the devil. Immediately after hearing the voice of God, Jesus hears the voice of Satan. He goes from a moment of triumph to more than a month of temptation. As soon as the Father drew near to His Beloved Son then does the Spirit drive Him away into the wilderness.

There are some hard and painful lessons for us to take away from this providential timing.

Number one, be vigilant! Keep your eyes open during seasons when you are experiencing God’s favor. Don’t be surprised that when you step forward to serve God, Satan will step forward to strike! One moment you are experiencing blessing and the next you’re engaged in battle. Adrian Rogers has said:

“Be prepared. As soon as God opens the windows of Heaven to bless us, the devil will open the doors of Hell to blast us.”

Be vigilant.

And number two, which is closely related to this, be careful. Be aware of the cost of drawing near to God. Drawing near to God is not a hazard free experience. Drawing near to God will not remove temptation, but actually invites it all the more. The more intimate you are with the Lord in your walk, the more intense the temptation will be to drag you away. The mountain top experience of spiritual victory or blessing can be, and often is, immediately followed with the low valleys of Satan’s volleys and blows. Be careful.

Now note secondly in this verse, the powerful thrust as seen in the verb of this verse. In Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ temptation, they used a weaker Greek verb to describe how Jesus went into the wilderness saying, “He was led by the Spirit” (Matt. 4:1; Lk. 4:1). But Mark used a much stronger Greek verb with a prefix attached to the front: ekballo. The prefix “ek” means “out” and the root verb “ballo” means “to throw”. Put together the verb means “to force to go away or go out”. Mark will use this same verb many times throughout this Gospel. He will even use it two more times in this first chapter to describe Jesus’ exorcism of demons, how He forcefully cast demons out of people.

All this to say, the same Spirit who divinely anointed Jesus at His baptism had a divine appointment for Him in the wilderness. Jesus went out into the wilderness to receive John’s baptism in the Jordan. Then, by the overpowering force of the Spirit, Jesus is taken further into the desert. This is not against His will as we now understand Jesus was obediently dependent upon the Spirit in all that He did. I say that the Spirit constrained Jesus to go out into the wilderness to emphasize the urgency and necessity of the events to follow. He was just confirmed as the Son of God by the voice of His heavenly Father and now He is constrained by the Holy Spirit to go out into the wilderness to be tested. That’s the idea behind the Spirit driving Jesus out: to test Him. I’ll explain this a little further in a moment.

But before that, let’s take away a couple more lessons from this powerful thrust.

Number one, we need to recognize that God is never on His heels when orchestrating His plan. He is always sovereignly taking the initiative. God brings the battle to the devil. He isn’t responding or retaliating, per se. God sent His own Son into combat onto Satan’s turf, or should I say sand! God was working out His perfect purposes, not resorting to a plan B.

And number two, we need to realize that the Spirit will not always shelter us from spiritual conflict or supernatural confrontation, but will sometimes thrust us into the midst of the fray. He does this to challenge us, to help us grow in our faith, our dependence, and our devotion to the Lord. How will we respond when spiritual blessing turns into spiritual battle? We should heed Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 to

Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

So that’s the providential timing and powerful thrust behind Jesus being constrained by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness.

2. Jesus was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (v. 13)

The next element of Jesus’ temptation is that Jesus was confronted by Satan in the wilderness. Despite his brevity in verse 13, Mark does provide us with a variety of things to take into account concerning the temptation of Jesus.

Mark 1:13 ESV

And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

One thing we should consider first is the destination of Jesus’ temptation. The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. That seems rather up front and obvious to us, but Mark repeats the destination twice in these two verses so that we would be acutely aware of how difficult this temptation was for Jesus. His temptation was in a barren desert. It was an isolated place, away from other people. It was hot and uncomfortable. It was dangerous, which Mark hints at by mentioning Jesus was with the wild animals. This was a place where Jesus was vulnerable not just spiritually, but physically. Fasting this entire time, He’d be hungry and thirsty. He’d be low on energy, not just from lack of food, but probably lack of sleep and from heat exhaustion. He’d have been a prime target of the roaming lion or ravenous wolf.

Think about how dissimilar Jesus’ temptation was in comparison to Adam’s. The first Adam was tempted in Eden, which literally means “delightful paradise”. The second Adam was tempted in the wilderness, a desolate place. The first Adam was tempted while he enjoyed a state of abundance. The second Adam was tempted to pursue abundance while He was in a state of emptiness. The first Adam was tempted by Satan and failed while he feasted. The second Adam was tempted by Satan and prevailed while He fasted.

This offers us a little perspective when it comes to the nature of our sin and succumbing to temptation. Let none of us attempt to excuse our sin by blaming our environment. How foolish we would be to say our environment “made us do it; made us give into temptation”. It may be true that the environment can intensify temptation, as with Jesus in the wilderness, but ultimately God places the blame of sin on the sinner, not the circumstance or environment. The blame was on Adam not the garden. There is something to be said about avoiding those environments and opportunities that you know will only increase the weight of temptation for you. But, should you find yourself in a paradise of pleasure or a wilderness of wickedness, it makes no difference. God’s standard of righteousness and requirement of obedience remains the same. We are called to be faithful, but when we fail we are to blame.

Additionally, consider the duration of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Forty days. The grammar of this verse also confirms that Jesus was being tempted by Satan for the entirety of His time in the wilderness. The verse could rightfully be translated, “And He was in the wilderness forty days, being constantly tempted by Satan”. This was no cake walk for Christ. It was more of a fiery crucible!

While Jesus did spend forty literal days and nights in the wilderness, we should also be aware that the number 40 in the Bible is symbolic. The number represents a period of testing, of purification, or of preparation. Take for example the Flood account in Genesis. God caused the rain to fall and the waters to rise for 40 days and nights, which literally purified the earth of wicked men and prepared Noah and his family to repopulate the world. Moses, in the book of Exodus, was in the wilderness of Midian for 40 years as God prepared him to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. Then later, Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai communing with God in preparation to give Israel God’s law and stipulations for the tabernacle. The people of Israel too were cursed by God to wander for 40 years in the wilderness, which both purified and prepared the people to finally enter the Promised Land. And then after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days preparing His disciples for His departure and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The duration of Jesus’ stay in the wilderness offers us another window to see God’s divine purposes. Having been affirmed by the Father as the Beloved Son of God, the Spirit thrusts Him out into the wilderness to go through a time of testing, purification, and preparation.

At this point it would be beneficial for us to understand the difference between testing and tempting. The confusion really comes from the fact that the Greek New Testament word for “to tempt” is the same word used elsewhere to mean “to test”. The Greek word essentially means, “to put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of something or someone, to try intentionally with the purpose of discovering what is good or evil, strong or weak, perfect or imperfect, pure or impure, complete or faulty.” In other words, there is a dual use to this word. On the one hand it can be used negatively to draw out what is impure or evil. On the other hand it can be used positively to prove durability or even further purify an object. We find an example of the negative use of this word in James, where James states:

James 1:13 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

In this sense, God does not negatively test someone with the purpose of inciting them to evil and sin. God does not tempt.

But we also have an example of this word being used in its positive sense by the author of Hebrews who wrote:

Hebrews 11:17 ESV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

In this instance, Abraham was tested by God with the intent of showing the resiliency of Abraham’s faith, while also strengthening Abraham’s faith as a result of completing the test with flying colors.

All this to say, the positive or negative meaning of this word is determined by the context and by the motive of the one performing the “test”. Here then is the difference:

Taken positively, God tests to reveal or reinforce the nature of something. His testing purifies, corrects, or enhances an object. When God tests His children it is always for their good, for their growth in grace and godliness, and for His glory.

But, when this word is taken in the other sense, negatively Satan tempts with the intention of soliciting someone to sin, enticing someone to evil, and deceiving someone to debauchery. Satan mirrors God’s purposes of testing. When Satan tempts us with sin he promises that it is for our good, but it always results in our harm. He promises that it is for our growth, but it always takes us away from grace and godliness. And he promises that it will bring us glory rather than bringing God glory. Testing from God is designed to bring God glory. Tempting from Satan is designed to bring us glory.

Back to Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. Why did the Spirit drive Jesus out into the wilderness where He would be continually tempted by Satan? That doesn’t sound like something a loving Father would do, does it? Well, actually I think it shows us two things that prove the Father’s love, both to His Son and to us. First, it shows the Father’s confidence in His Son that Jesus would not be drawn away from doing the Father’s will. Human parents test their own children in similar ways which expresses their confidence in their child’s obedience and challenges them to mature. This is a loving thing to do. Second, driving Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted demonstrates to us Jesus’ qualification to destroy the devil’s works and deliver slaves from their sin. In these two ways do we see God’s love for His Son and His love for sinners like us!

Now, there is one more vital piece of Jesus’ confrontation with the devil that we should consider before moving on. Consider the defense of Jesus against temptation. We are familiar enough, I hope, with the other two Gospel accounts of Jesus’ temptation that I won’t spend time reading. But I will point out four tactics or helps Jesus had to defend against Satan’s temptation.

First, Jesus fasted (Matt. 4:2). Fasting, we must understand, is always associated with and accompanied by prayer in the Bible. Fasting was a means of focusing intently on prayer [see ESV Study Bible note on Matt. 4:2]. So, Jesus’ first tactic was an act of complete dependency on His Heavenly Father.

Second, Jesus answered Satan’s twisting of Scripture with a true understanding and application of Scripture. Three times the devil pulled Scripture out of context and three times Jesus responded with putting Scripture into proper context. Jesus’ second tactic was an act of total dependency on the sufficiency of God’s Word.

Third, Jesus was empowered by the Spirit. It is no coincidence that Jesus is anointed by the Spirit first at His baptism before He is appointed to engage with the enemy. Jesus’ third tactic was to be dependent upon the Spirit’s leading and enabling to withstand the schemes of the Evil One.

And fourth, Jesus was ministered to by angels. Again, Mark’s language conveys that these angels may have been there for Jesus the entire 40 days. This part of the verse mirrors the beginning so that it could read, “[Jesus] was constantly being tempted by Satan… and the angels were constantly ministering to Him.” However it worked out, whether the angels were always there behind the veil to the spiritual world tending secretly to Christ throughout the temptation or whether they appeared to Him visibly after the temptation to revive and refresh Him, it really makes no difference. The point is that the Father never left His Son to care for Himself. God sent out His servants to bring aid and relief in Jesus’ time of trouble.

There are many lessons for us to take away from Jesus’ confrontation with Satan. I’ll try my best to keep these short and to the point for you.

Number one, recognize that Satan is an actual, real supernatural being. He is a personal being. Every New Testament author mentions him and confirms this. While Satan is supernatural, we should also recognize that he is not equal to God in any stretch of the imagination. Yet, don’t underestimate him. For example: Satan is not omnipotent, but he is profoundly powerful. He is not omniscient, but he is deceptively smart. He is not omnipresent, but he does strategically appear where he believes he can do the most harm. So, be aware of Satan’s game-plan. He will use trickery. He will use deception. He will execute sneaky schemes. He will lay out traps and snares. And he has many tools he is well trained in using; chief among these is doubt in God’s goodness.

Lesson number two, be fervent in prayer and supplication. There is a reason why Paul concluded his list of the armor of God in Ephesians 6 with:

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

A kneeling saint in prayer can bring Satan to his knees in perplexity. Prayer has power, not because of who prays, but because of Who we pray to!

Number three, be fluent in the Scriptures. Our enemy the devil knows Scripture well and how to abuse it. Therefore you must know Scripture better and how to use it. Case in point, this week take the time to count how many times Jesus quoted the Old Testament throughout the four Gospel accounts. If Jesus believed knowing the Word well was vitally important, then we should be in the Word and master it, too.

Lesson number four, be filled with the Holy Spirit. This sounds a little odd given the fact that all true believers are indwelt by the Spirit, but there are specific commands in the New Testament to “be filled with the Spirit.” The idea is that this requires soaking in Scripture so that we know the Spirit’s voice and recognize His leading in our life. To be filled with the Spirit is to be empty of all filthiness either from the world or your flesh and to be filled up with that which is good and pleasing to God as found in His written Word.

Number five, be a friendly servant. Perhaps you are not presently under fierce temptation or in a time of fiery trial. Use this season of reprieve to look for those who are encountering temptation or enduring a trial. Are there people around you or maybe even absent from you, people to whom you could be lending a helping hand? Can you think of a fellow brother or sister in Christ who attends this church who you could minister to in order to bring them some much needed relief and refreshment in Christ while they navigate this season of life? After all, Paul does actually command us as believers to:

Galatians 6:2, 9–10

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

It could be as simple as writing them a note of encouragement, talking to them over the phone, or praying for them in person. Use the talents and resources God has given you to be a blessing and “ministering angel” to those in need.

And lesson number six, be fixated on the Son (S.O.N). Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of how to fight the devil and resist any temptation, whether that temptation comes from the world, your flesh, or the devil. Incorporate the tactics Jesus used when temptation comes your way.

But more than being simply a “good example”, Jesus Christ is the believer’s Sympathetic, Great High Priest. The author of Hebrews wrote that “[Jesus] partook of our flesh and blood, that… He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

In Jesus Christ, we not only have a great pattern to resist temptation, but we have the greatest power to overcome temptation. That great power is Jesus’ mercy and grace to help us in time of need, as the author of Hebrews wrote later in chapter 4:

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The words of that beloved hymn come to my mind:

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge-- take it to the Lord in prayer!

Conclusion

Although he wrote very little about the details of Jesus’ temptation, Mark has recorded this event for all generations to be assured of Christ’s power to destroy the devil’s works and to be at rest in His power to deliver the captive from any sin. That is the promise of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve. Whatever your need, He is a shield from temptation or a shelter from trouble; He is a commander in battle or a companion in-between; a fountainhead of compassion and goodness or a foundation of courage and grace. Simply “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). As your High Priest, Jesus is ever present to intercede for you and sustain you.

But even more than a Servant to you, Mark would have you to trust Jesus as your Savior from sin. He came to give His life as a ransom for many. Christ died as your Savior to save you from slavery to sin and serves all who trust in Him so that you may not continue to sin. In Christ you have been given the victory over sin and Satan, not by virtue of anything you’ve done or said, but by the merit of Jesus’ righteous life and sacrificial death as your representative.

Would that we all would personally know and experience those words of Charles Wesley about Jesus Christ, that:

He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me.

The Temptation of Jesus

Prayer

Introduction

1. Jesus was constrained by the Spirit of God to go into the wilderness (v. 12)

2. Jesus was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (v. 13)

Conclusion

[Communion]