Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Two

There’s great value in recognizing the main characters of Jesus’ stories and finding some background information as we learned last week. Let’s continue with the ‘where’ and ‘when’, also called the setting, of one of those divine stories. We’re studying in greater depth the temptation of Jesus found in three gospels: Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; and Luke 4:1-13 and now, what each one adds to the setting.

Matthew and Luke tell us Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness but only Luke records He was ‘full of the Holy Spirit returning from the Jordan’ River. Is that detail of timing important to the setting? Absolutely! Jesus was just baptized in that river and everyone experienced the Trinity in a unique way. His Father opened the heavens, released the Spirit on Him, and spoke audibly (Luke 3:13-17) with a message of love for His Son. That’s the setting, the where and when that prepared Him for a time of temptation by the devil.

Mark used more force in his short description; he wrote, under Peter’s direction, the Spirit immediately drove or compelled Him along with wild animals and angels present. Can you imagine that scene? Was there a temptation to fear presented to Jesus even before the devil appeared; they can operate side-by-side. We need to remember that Jesus was our example:

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. Hebrews 4:15

In this setting we also find Jesus’ humanity; after 40 days of eating nothing He was hungry. Such a simple statement and yet helps us understand Jesus’ compassion for us a little better.

Let’s bring the ‘where and when’ question of this lower story home. What’s your setting in life: your upper story? Where are your weaknesses in those dry, desert places? Has the devil watched you realizing your loneliness, depression, rage, successes, failures, or simply self-sufficiency? Have you caved into worldly pleasures and shifted your focus from the Lord to emotions or possessions? 

 If Jesus needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be prepared to stand against Satan’s temptations; so do we (Eph. 5:18). He also taught us to pray we would ‘not be led into temptation’ but when it happens, and it will, we’ll be ready (1 Cor. 10:13).

The setting of a Jesus Story is critical to recognize because our enemy wants to remove our influence but God has provided His indwelling Spirit in us with strength to stand and prevail with overcoming power. One last detail to consider; Luke wrote that specific temptations end. That truth gives me hope that ‘this too shall pass’ and the devil will leave but we must never forget (Luke 4:13) he’s patiently waiting for another opportunity. 

The setting of a story is essential; dive deeper.