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IF JESUS LIVED TODAY!
2. TEMPTATIONS
(Matthew 4:1-10).

A little boy who lived near a lake was warned by his parents to
never go swimming without supervision. One day his father
caught him in the water. The innocent-sounding little guy
immediately protested, "But daddy, I didn't mean to go swimming.
It just happened."

"Then," replied his father, "why on earth did you bring your
swim suit with you when you came to play near the lake?"

The little boy answered, "I brought it along just in case I got
tempted."

Well, all of us "get" tempted. A temptation means a trial or an
experience that requires us to make an important value choice.
Temptations may involve physical or moral or spiritual issues.
Notice that Jesus didn't get to avoid any of our human problems.
After his public commitment and baptism, he faced some major
decisions. The Scripture says, "Then Jesus was led by the
Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter
came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these
stones to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: `Man
does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God.' ' Then the devil took him to the holy city
and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you
are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is
written:' "He will command his angels concerning you, and they
will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, 'It is also
written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Again, the
devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will give
you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Jesus
said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship
the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "(Mat. 4:1-10).

It's significant that these temptations came immediately after
his greatest spiritual affirmation. Mark said, "As Jesus was
coming up out of the water, he saw . . . the Spirit descending
on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my
Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.' At once the
Spirit sent him out into the desert," (Mark 1:10-12).

That's something we can expect. After every high spiritual
experience, there's always an emotional let down. Jesus was
alone and exhausted and hungry. It's at such weak moments that
we may stumble. You'll also notice that Satan first tried to
instill doubt. Each encounter began with the words, "If you are
the Son of God."

Now, Jesus had just been assured of his status. The voice from
heaven had said, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am
well pleased" (Luke 3:22).

He was even filled with the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures say,
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit . . . was led by the Spirit in
the desert" (Luke 4:1).

But these spiritual affirmations didn't protect him from
temptation. In fact, as long as he was on earth he kept meeting
temptations and experiencing human dilemmas. The writer of
Hebrews said, "Jesus . . . was made a little lower than the
angels . . . Both the one who makes men holy and those who are
made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to
call them brothers. Since the children have flesh and blood, he
too shared in their humanity . . . For surely it is not angels
he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to
be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might
become a merciful and faithful high priest . . . Because he
himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those
who are being tempted" (Heb. 2:9a,11,14,16-18).

Later he said, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we are . . ." (Heb. 4:15).

Why do you suppose those particular decisions were so traumatic
right at the beginning of his ministry? What lessons can we
learn from this account? What point does it make about
temptation?

I. FIRST, THE TEMPTATIONS DEALT WITH PHYSICAL NEEDS.

The Scripture says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights,
he was hungry" (Matt. 4:2).

The thought probably came that if you starve to death up here,
you won't be of any use to anyone. So, you must do whatever is
necessary in order to survive. The Scripture expressed it this
way: "The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of
God, tell these stones to become bread' " (Matt. 4:3).

But, Jesus rose above instant gratification and answered, "It is
written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God' " (Matt. 4:4).

II. NEXT, THE TEMPTATIONS DEALT WITH EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

He was beginning to realize the magnitude of his mission. He
felt called to carry out a momentous task. But here he was, an
unknown figure in an obscure part of the world, with no
connections in high places. How on earth could he influence
anyone? The thought probably came that if he performed a risky
stunt and was miraculously protected, he'd have an instant
following. He'd be famous. The Scriptures say, "Then the devil
took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point
of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw
yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels
concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so
that you will not strike your foot against a stone." ' "
(Matt.4:5-6).

Satan was not lying. The Psalmist had promised that God would
protect his anointed. "If you make the Most High your
dwelling-even the Lord . . . then no harm will befall you . . .
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in
all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that
you will not strike your foot against a stone" (Psa. 91:9-12).

But Jesus realized it can be dangerous to pick and choose and
quote scriptures for our own benefit and he answered, "It is
also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
(Matt. 4:7).

III. FINALLY, THE TEMPTATIONS DEALT WITH MENTAL NEEDS.

When Jesus considered the problems of the world and his own
earthly limitations, the challenge seemed impossible. The
thought probably came that maybe a compromise with the world
would be necessary. Maybe if he cooperated with the world's
power structures, he'd have more clout. The Scriptures say,
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed
him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this
I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me'
" (Matt. 4:8-9).

But Jesus reacted decisively to this temptation, saying, "Away
from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God,
and serve him only.' " (Matt. 4:10).

Now, what if this were today? Would Jesus consider using his
personal abilities to gain financial security? Would Jesus use
dramatic gimmicks to get media coverage and attract attention?
Would Jesus compromise his message or use tele-evangelism
methods to gain fame?

We don't know for sure what form his temptations would take; but
we know they would be real. In fact, sometimes, like all of us,
he would have to face situations that have no "right" answers.
Can you imagine Jesus on election day, having to vote for one of
two flawed candidates? How would he handle welfare dilemmas?
Would he speed if he were late for an appointment? Would he
ever break one law to keep a higher law? What would he do if
his retirement funds were invested in tobacco or liquor stocks?
Would he participate in peace marches?

Even though Jesus would have to deal with different issues if he
lived in American today, instead of in Palestine 2000 years ago,
his basic responses would still be the same:

1. FIRST, HE WOULD STILL PUT SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES OVER PHYSICAL
PRIORITIES.

He would never become so materialistic that "things" would take
precedence over "integrity." He wouldn't try to "keep up with
the Joneses." He wouldn't go in debt to have instant
gratification. He wouldn't elevate possessions over people.
It's impossible to imagine him in the mansions and Mercedes of
many modern day religious leaders. He said, "Be on your guard
against every form of greed . . . a man's life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15).

2. NEXT, JESUS WOULD STILL REJECT THE USE OF GIMMICKS.

He wouldn't claim supernatural miracles. He wouldn't use
advertising hype. He wouldn't resort to emotional scare
tactics. In fact, he often avoided publicity. Once, Jesus
said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? . .
.no sign will be given to it" (Mark 8:12).

Many times he even warned his disciples not to tell anyone that
he was the Christ" (See Matt. 16:20; Mar. 8:30; 9:9; Luke 5:14;
8:56).

He knew people who respond to novelty and excitement will fade
when the excitement fades. Some of the same individuals who
yelled, "Hosanna," on Monday; probably yelled, "Crucify" on
Friday.

3. FINALLY, JESUS WOULD STILL AVOID IMMORAL SHORTCUTS.

He wouldn't sell out to powerful institutions. For instance, he
refused to placate Pilate. The Scriptures say, "The chief
priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him,
'Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are
accusing you of.' But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was
amazed" (Mark 15:3-5).

A few hours later, he refused to perform a miracle for Herod.
The Scriptures say, "When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly
pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.
>From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform
some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave
him no answer" (Luke 23:8-9).

Now, if we're to take the gospel seriously, what does this mean
for us? Remember the Scripture says, "Whoever claims to live
in him must walk as Jesus did" (I John 2:6).

If Jesus lived today, he would still refuse to compromise with
evil. It's notable that none of Jesus' temptations involved
overt sins. That's still true. Few of us are tempted to
murder. Instead, we're tempted to make excuses and neglect
worship. But compromise with sin is a slippery slope. No
garden "suddenly" becomes overgrown with weeds. No building
"suddenly" crumbles. No person "suddenly" becomes a criminal.
Instead, it's usually a gradual process that starts with small
temptations.

Once a minister called a boy from the audience and tied his arms
together with a piece of thread. It was easy for the boy to
break loose. Then, when he wound the thread three times it was
harder to break. Finally, so many threads bound the boy's arms
together that he could do nothing. "Sin, is like that thread.
It looks so harmless at first, but eventually it takes away our
freedom and makes us prisoners! James says, "Each one is
tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and
enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death"
(James 1:14-15).

Do you always put spiritual principles over physical wants?
Jesus did! Do you always work for achievements instead of
expecting a bailout? Jesus did! Do you always make the right
decision instead of the easy decision? Jesus did!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, "Learn to say 'No!' It will be of
more value than learning Greek or Latin."
Have you been yielding to small temptations? Do you need to
rededicate your life and reaffirm your faith?

Miles Wesner