Bible Studies

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The Gospels
Luke 4:1-13 – Temptation & Growth
Key Verses: (NRSV)

• 1-2: ¹“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days He was tempted by the devil.” – Immediately following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days.
  
  
• 3: “The devil said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to be come a loaf of bread.’” – After forty days of temptations and going without food, Satan first focuses on what he perceives to be Jesus’ weaknesses. This temptation is more about Jesus’ identity than it is about food and nourishment. Satan wanted Jesus to set aside who He was and turn towards selfish pursuits.
  
  
• 5-7: ⁵“Then the devil led Him up and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil said to Him…⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” – Now turning towards His strengths, Satan offers what he perceives to be Jesus’ goal - kingdom building in the earthly sense.
  
  
• 9-10: ⁹“Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, and placed Him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written…’” – Satan misinterprets Psalm 91 in his attempt to counter Jesus’ scriptural defenses.
  
  
• 13: “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” – Turned back but not defeated, the devil slinks away and awaits another opportunity.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness? Why not take Him to the “still waters,” instead? Did the forty days of temptation play an important role in Jesus’ ministry? Was it a way for Jesus to experience humanness? Are these verses a model for us? Do they provide us with methods and techniques for withstanding temptation? Did Jesus grow and mature from this experience? Did it help put His purpose on earth into perspective? Did it strengthen Him for what was to come? Will the Holy Spirit lead you into the wilderness?
  
  
• Do you learn from your temptations? Do you accept that your temptation experiences are one way God can prepare you for the ministry He has in store for you? Can you see that being in the wilderness is a normal part of life and simply because you are tempted does not mean you have failed? Can you learn to see temptation as a growth opportunity?
  
  
• Who are you? Do you see that temptation is more about who and whose you are than it is about sin? To withstand temptation is it helpful to remember that you are a child of God? In the midst of your deepest struggle, do you realize that God loves you? Are you strengthened because He has selected you and called you by name? Jesus withstood Satan by quoting scripture. Is this simply a way of remembering God’s love for you? Does this show you how important prayer and the study of the Bible are to your survival in the wilderness?
  
  
• Is the devil waiting for a more “opportune time?” Does this mean you must always be on guard? Do you continue to experience temptation and sinfulness even in the midst of your ministry? Do you call these situations setbacks? Are you frustrated by their frequency? Are you surprised by their intensity? Is your faith shaken? Do you wonder if you will ever be free of their influence? Do you feel unworthy? Are you humbled? Do you remember that God loves you? Are you aware that He will protect you?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

Jesus’ baptism has just been completed. He is filled with the Holy Spirit. He starts His ministry by following where the Holy Spirit leads Him. And, suddenly, He finds Himself in the wilderness…a symbolic depiction of being separated from God. However, He is not alone. For forty days the devil has tempted Him and for forty days He has grown hungry and weak. Jesus was led into the wilderness to experience separation as all of us since Adam have experienced it. Through temptation the devil tried to pressure Jesus into forgetting who He was; he tried creating a crisis in identity. But God has provided us with ways to remember. We are children of God. We have been called by name. He promises to provide, nourish, care, and protect us. Our wildernesses experiences and the temptations we face are opportunities for growth when we remember to call out His name.

FUMC Devotionals

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