Matt. 4:2-23

The temptations of Jesus. I never know how to feel about these. They leave me a little conflicted.

First things first though. One of the commentary's makes an interesting point about high notes being followed by low notes. Mountains by valleys. Choose your analogy. Following Jesus uplifting experience in being baptized He has this extreme trial of the forty day fast and the great temptation. I believe He was prepared before facing the test in keeping with the Biblical principle of not facing more than we can handle. Matthew Henry says:

After great honours put upon us, we must expect something that is humbling; as Paul has a messenger of Satan sent to buffer him, after he had been in the third heavens. 3. God usually prepares his people for temptation before he calls them to it; he gives strength according to the day, and, before a sharp trial, gives more than ordinary comfort.

There is also some interesting points about the forty day fast. Two other people in the Bible endured such a thing. Moses, who then received the Law from God Himself, Elijah, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, and Jesus, the new Law and the fulfiller of prophesy. Very cool.

As for the actual temptations, the first one had to be a butt kicker. Bread after a fast. Dirty trick. The human part of Him had to be screaming for some food. But the other two don't strike me as something the Son of God would really find all that enticing. Tempting God to prove Himself seems like kind of a weak effort by the Devil and offering the kingdoms of earth (which he created and already owns) also seems lame.

Also in here is the calling of the first four disciples. Fascinating that all four responded to a few words from Jesus by dropping their jobs and family commitments without question. What charisma Jesus must have had . Fresh from His victory over Satan in the desert I can only imagine that those first four must have physically been able to feel the power of God radiating from Jesus. Incredible.