Christian essay
SWS TOPIC – CHRIST AT THE CROSSROAD OF TEMPTATION
November 10, 2013
CHRIST AT THE CROSSROAD OF TEMPTATION
Matthew 4:1-11
(Charles R. Swindoll)
I. INTRODUCTION:
In Matthew 4 recorded the crucial juncture of the life of Jesus.
II. BODY:
A. Setting:
About the time Christ turned thirty, this carpenter from Galilee gave His tools away, hugged His family, and headed for the Jordan River in Judea. There He knew He would find the prophet who was preparing the way for His public ministry – His wonderful, agonizing journey to the Cross.
No one knew the enormity of the Messiah’s journey better than Satan. Nor was there anyone who wanted more to stop Him. For the Evil One knew that Christ’s death and resurrection would seal his ultimate doom. So immediately following Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3), the adversary tries to detour Christ at the crossroad of temptation. (Matthew 4:1-2)
Satan is hungry too. The apostle Peter describes him as a roaring lion, prowling about for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). And at this particular time, that someone is Christ. But notice that the devil doesn’t attack Jesus immediately after His baptism. He waits until the Son of Man is alone, in a wilderness, weakened from more than a month of fasting. Then the stalking lion pounces.
B. The Temptation
Satan’s attack on Christ, however, is not like the savage and bloody ones made by lions in nature. Rather, he makes a more subtle attack, attempting to bring his prey down with three temptations; each ruthlessly designed to lure the Savior away from His Father and His mission.
First test: a personal nature. Drawing upon what God called Jesus at His baptism- “My beloved Son” – Satan dares Christ to prove His identity with an appetizing display of power. (Matthew 4:3)
Christ certainly has the power to accept the dare. He has a powerful physical hunger too. So what would be wrong with turning a few stones into bread? Everything. Hidden beneath Satan’s seemingly harmless
November 10, 2013
CHRIST AT THE CROSSROAD OF TEMPTATION
Matthew 4:1-11
(Charles R. Swindoll)
I. INTRODUCTION:
In Matthew 4 recorded the crucial juncture of the life of Jesus.
II. BODY:
A. Setting:
About the time Christ turned thirty, this carpenter from Galilee gave His tools away, hugged His family, and headed for the Jordan River in Judea. There He knew He would find the prophet who was preparing the way for His public ministry – His wonderful, agonizing journey to the Cross.
No one knew the enormity of the Messiah’s journey better than Satan. Nor was there anyone who wanted more to stop Him. For the Evil One knew that Christ’s death and resurrection would seal his ultimate doom. So immediately following Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3), the adversary tries to detour Christ at the crossroad of temptation. (Matthew 4:1-2)
Satan is hungry too. The apostle Peter describes him as a roaring lion, prowling about for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). And at this particular time, that someone is Christ. But notice that the devil doesn’t attack Jesus immediately after His baptism. He waits until the Son of Man is alone, in a wilderness, weakened from more than a month of fasting. Then the stalking lion pounces.
B. The Temptation
Satan’s attack on Christ, however, is not like the savage and bloody ones made by lions in nature. Rather, he makes a more subtle attack, attempting to bring his prey down with three temptations; each ruthlessly designed to lure the Savior away from His Father and His mission.
First test: a personal nature. Drawing upon what God called Jesus at His baptism- “My beloved Son” – Satan dares Christ to prove His identity with an appetizing display of power. (Matthew 4:3)
Christ certainly has the power to accept the dare. He has a powerful physical hunger too. So what would be wrong with turning a few stones into bread? Everything. Hidden beneath Satan’s seemingly harmless