Jesus our Champion

Text: Matt 4:1-11 Automotive manufactures customarily put new car models through grueling tests before they offer them to the public. It is called “stress testing.” They might put 500,000 miles on a car through extreme conditions of weather, speed, stop and go traffic, etc. Why? They want the car to fail. They want to discover its weaknesses so that they can be re-engineered. Similarly, in today’s text the Holy Spirit puts Jesus through a stress test. Let’s look at the context. God is preparing Jesus for his ministry. Two weeks ago John came preaching a baptism of repentance to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. Last week John baptized Jesus. The Holy Spirit came upon him. The Father affirmed him, and John the Baptist pointed everyone to him. His baptism transitioned Jesus from a private to a public life. It moved him from a secular calling to full-time ministry. It anointed him with power to accomplish the work to which his Father called him. Only one step of preparation remained—testing. In today’s text the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted/tested. It is a stress test. Will he obey God? When the pressure is on will he do the Father’s will? That was the question. As our substitute, Christ passed the test. That is the point of today’s text.

A.CONTEXT: TESTED AND FOUND WANTING General principle: God never tempts us, but the HS does lead us into places and situations that test us. With the exception of Christ,

1 of 11 no human being has ever passed the test adequately. Here are some examples. Adam failed the test in the Garden. Moses failed the test in the wilderness. The Israelites cried out to God for water. God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would yield water, but instead he struck the rock in anger. God honored Moses. The rock gave its water, but God disinherited Moses. The Israelites, the Jewish people, also failed the test. Here is how God described the purpose of their testing in the wilderness. (Deuteronomy 8:2–3) "2 You shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Israel failed this test. They failed to believe God’s promises. Yes, they believed that God existed, but they lacked saving faith. You can believe in God’s existence and lack saving faith. We know this because although they believed in God’s power and greatness, they had no concept of his infinite goodness. Therefore, they didn’t trust God. Because they didn’t trust God, they were unwilling to obey him. They failed the wilderness test. Here is how it happened. The Jewish people left Egypt and passed through the Red Sea. In 1 Corinthians chapter ten Paul compares their experience at the Red Sea to baptism. “They all

2 of 11 passed through the Sea, and they were all baptized in Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” The Holy Spirit always led them. Remember, God’s glory went before them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Where did the Holy Spirit lead them? It was only a four or five day journey Northeast from the Red Sea to Canaan. But that was not where the Holy Spirit led them. Instead, he led them Southeast into the howling Sinai wilderness where there was no food and no water. After three days the people complained bitterly. Why? They didn’t trust God. (Exodus 16:2–3) "2 Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”" In grace and mercy God responded to their grumbling. He gave them manna from heaven. A few days later they ran out of water, and the people complained again. Moses struck the rock and clean, cold water gushed forth. Afterwards, that rock followed them through the Wilderness. Fifty days after leaving the Red Sea they arrived at Mount Sinai. God appeared to them as a pillar of fire on the top of the Mountain. God spoke the law to Israel audibly. Moses went up Sinai to receive the law in writing. But incredibly when he didn’t return right away the people lapsed into unbelief. They broke the second commandment. To represent YHWH they talked Aaron into building a golden calf. Why? They didn’t trust God. God’s judgment fell, and thousands of Israelites died.

3 of 11 Israel stayed at Mt. Sinai one year until the Tabernacle was built. Then, in preparation for departure to Canaan, God consecrated Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. But, immediately Aaron and his sons, the first Levitical priests, also failed the test. Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered strange fire. God struck them dead. The priesthood also began in disobedience and failure. Last, before entering Canaan, God commanded Israel to spy out the land. The twelve spies returned in unbelief. The land is occupied by giants. Even with God’s help we cannot enter and conquer. God’s patience had finally hit its limit. The testing was over. Israel had failed miserably. The Holy Spirit turned them around, and led them back into the desert for forty more years of testing until the unbelieving generation died. Someone greater than Israel was needed. It was obvious that men and women infected with sin could never pass God’s stress testing. Adam failed. Moses failed. Aaron failed. Israel failed. The first Levites failed. Think of your own life and how many times you have failed God, and I think you will agree. Fallen humanity cannot meet God’s demands.

B.TESTED AND CONQUERING. Christ our substitute passed the test for us. That is point of today’s text. In regards to testing he filled two offices. He was the Second Adam. He was the Israel of God. As our substitute he did everything that Adam and Israel failed to do. 4:1-2 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Look at the parallels with Israel. First, out text tells us that he, like Israel, was tested immediately after his baptism.

4 of 11 Second, Jesus, like Israel, was led by the HS into a place of testing. Third, the Holy Spirit led Jesus, like Israel, into a Wilderness to be tempted. Israel spent forty years in the Wilderness. Jesus spent forty days in the Wilderness. As our substitute Jesus faced three temptations. 1st The Devil tempted him to act independently. 2nd The Devil tempted Jesus to test God. 3rd He tempted Jesus to let the means justify the end. Jesus defeated each temptation with faith in God’s Word. B.1. Act Independently 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Israel entered a wilderness without food and became hungry. In the same way, Jesus was tested by hunger. Israel’s hunger was involuntary. Jesus hunger was voluntary. The Holy Spirit commanded him to fast for forty days, and when the Devil came to him, God had not yet released him from that fast. We need to pay careful attention to the nature of this temptation because the Devil did not tempt Jesus to do something sinful. He didn’t tempt him with adultery. That would have been much easier to resist. He tempted him to do something morally neutral but outside of God’s timing and initiative—turn stones into bread. Later Jesus would twice miraculously create bread to feed thousands. The sin was a temptation to do something good at a time and place outside of God’s will. In other words, the Devil tempted Jesus to act independently. For Jesus, and us, this was a great sin. As the

5 of 11 only sinless man he was totally dependent upon his Father. That was the heart and soul of his righteousness. (John 5:19) "19 The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." (John 5:30) "30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." Jesus defeated the Devil with faith in God’s word. It is important to note that Jesus quoted Deuteronomy. These were the very words that God gave Israel to use against the Devil in the wilderness, but which they failed to use. 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (John 4:34) "34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." What does it look like for us to act independently? It means eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, i.e. making our own rules for life. It means making major decisions without consulting God. B.2. Testing God 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

6 of 11 This temptation was sophisticated and subtle. The Devil is a master at distorting God’s Word. He is a master at quoting it out of context. His servants imitate him. He began “If you are the Son of God?” In other words, “Prove to me that you are the Son of God.” If you are really the Son of God he will protect you as promised in Ps 91. It is a temptation to get Jesus to act from the pride of life, to prove himself. To boast about himself. To assert himself. It is the temptation to buy that new luxury car, not because you want the car, but to prove how rich you are. It is the temptation to seduce that guy, not because you love him, but to prove how beautiful or clever you are, to prove that you can do it. It is the temptation to boast and brag about yourself. It is the temptation to drop the names of important people that you know at next week’s Christmas party. The Devil knows the Bible better than we. He quotes Ps 91. It promises to protect the one who abides in the shadow of the almighty, who makes God his dwelling. But, Satan only quotes half the truth. He says nothing about the condition of God’s blessing— abiding. In other words, Satan tempted Jesus to quit "abiding." He tempts Jesus to act from the boastful pride of life, and still expect God’s blessing. In other words, “Jump down from the temple. Prove your sonship. If the angels come to your rescue in fulfillment of Ps 91 I will know that you are truly the Son of God.” Jesus defeated the Devil with another quote, this time from Deut. 6:16. In the wilderness, at Massah, the Jews also tested God. They demanded that God prove his presence by providing them with water. So Jesus quotes Deuteronomy again. “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” To the end of that verse

7 of 11 Deuteronomy adds a phrase Jesus left out— “as you [Israel] tested him at Massah.” At Massah God gave Israel water, but he was not pleased with them. B.3. A Good end with a sinful Means 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Again, the devil demonstrates his subtlety. He tempts Jesus to justify an evil means because the end is good. We say, “The end never justifies the means.” In this case, the Devil said to Jesus “the end justifies the means.” The end was dominion over the world. God sent Jesus to regain the world dominion that Adam forfeited. But, Jesus also knew that the means to that end was the cross. He obtain dominion by serving. Satan offered Jesus a shortcut. You can have the dominion that God sent you to achieve without the horror and suffering of the cross. Just fall down and worship me. How about you and I? Wealth is a lawful end, but the means is hard work, honesty, patience, contentment, and godliness. Sexual gratification is a good end, but God’s means is a life- long commitment to a member of the opposite sex in holy matrimony. Power and fame are good ends, but God’s means to that end are servanthood, obedience, not control, domination or the sinful using of others. A good end never justifies a sinful means.

8 of 11 Ministry is a good end, but God’s means to that end are servanthood, self-discipline, patience, and waiting upon God until the elders in the church recognize your calling. In summary, Adam, Israel, and by extension each of us, failed God’s testing. God sent his Son to endure a stress test in the wilderness. He endured stresses of which we have no knowledge or experience. He passed three specific tests—a test to act independently, a test to act from the pride of life, and a test to let a good end justify a sinful means.

C.APPLICATION Today’s text is rich in application. The main application is not defeat the Devil with scripture memorization. C.1. The HS tests but he never Tempts (James 1:13–15) "13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he [God] himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

C.2. Faith is the object of the Holy Spirit’s testing (James 1:2–4) "2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." It is faith in God’s goodness that gets tested. Pain, trouble, and disaster test our faith in God’s goodness and God’s sovereignty. What kinds of tests are we talking about?

9 of 11 Sickness (Claire) Death (my brother) Disability (Dan Shubin) War (Stalingrad) Economic Collapse (2008) Tsunamis, Typhoons, Earthquakes Persecution (Homosexual Issue) Etc.

C.3. Because he was tempted Jesus Feels your Pain (Hebrews 4:15–16) "15 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. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." C.4. When you fail, Jesus is your Substitute Jesus is our substitute. He has conquered testing. Trust him. He is the true Israel of God who passed through the wilderness testing unscathed. Your faith unites you with Christ in his victory over temptation. Despite your failures, when you cling to Christ by faith, God imputes his success to you. Because of Matt 4 God sees you and me as individuals who have been victorious over testing and temptation. Anecdote: Archbishop Cranmer.

10 of 11 C.5. Resist the Devil and he will flee (1 Peter 5:8–9) "8 Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith." (James 4:7) "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We resist him by commanding him in Jesus name to leave. We resist the Devil with prayer. (Matthew 6:13) "13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We resist the Devil by putting our faith in God’s sovereignty and goodness. We resist the Devil by repenting of sinful desire.

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