Q1, S04 The Temptation of Jesus

Quarter 1, Session 4: The Temptation of Jesus

DO YOU NEED JESUS’ VICTORY?

Passage

Luke 4:1–13

Concept

This session falls under Jesus’ second question: Do you desire me? When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, he had to demonstrate a commitment to one of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of this World or the Kingdom of God. Like Israel before us, we are all pulled toward building our own kingdoms, which ultimately are a part of the Kingdom of this World. By resisting Satan’s temptations, Jesus offers to lead us in pursuing a new kingdom: the Kingdom of God.

Key Question

Which Kingdom are you actively pursuing: the Kingdom of this World or the Kingdom of God? Explain your answer.

The Leveling Tool

Do you see our Leveling tool being played out in Luke 4:1–13? With whom? How so?

The Temptation of Jesus

Think of a time when you’ve seen someone do a thing you know you could never do. A speaker waxing eloquent, a poet encapsulating beauty, a singer striking a high note, an athlete smashing a record. When we witness victories like these, we usually feel some mixture of inspiration and jealousy. Such triumphs leave us in awe at others’ abilities even as we are reminded of our own lack of ability.

We sometimes have these experiences in our spiritual lives as well. Any time we witness the generous giving of a financially-stretched friend, or the continued faithfulness of a husband, or the patience of a parent with a difficult child, we are inspired with the possibility of overcoming our own temptations even as we are reminded of our many failures.

But watching Jesus’ victory over temptation is not like this. As we read about Jesus’ encounter with the devil in Luke 4:1–13, we may be tempted to throw up our hands: of course Jesus overcame temptation: he’s Jesus! Or we may feel inspired to try harder next time we encounter temptation. But our victory over sin is not something we can achieve through our own efforts, nor is it a one-time accomplishment. Perhaps Jesus’ victory over temptation was never meant to give us helpful strategies for overcoming our own sin. What if God recorded this story so that we could see that even though Adam and Eve failed, even though Israel failed, even though we still fail today, Jesus didn’t? And that changes everything. This story is not necessarily a model to be followed, but a historical fact that we are meant to receive as a gift: Jesus did what we could not. And he did this on our behalf.

1.     Read Luke 4:1–13. Right off the bat, what strikes you about this passage? What do you find interesting or challenging or confusing?

Into the Wilderness

Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon him and led him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. It’s crucial that we acknowledge that it was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus into this situation. The implication is that Jesus would not have been tempted like this had the Spirit not directly led him to it. This is a good reminder for us that following the Spirit’s leading sometimes means walking into a dark, dry season. Just because you’re in a difficult situation does not mean you’ve done something wrong, it doesn’t mean that God is not with you. Often, the times when we feel the farthest from God are the very times when God is working in us the most.

2.     Have you gone through any dry, difficult seasons recently? Was it hard to recognize God’s presence in those times? How so? Have you been able to see any ways in which God was working then? How so?

The Kingdom of this World

Even as we acknowledge the Spirit’s presence in Jesus’ wilderness temptations, we also need to recognize that Satan was tempting Jesus. Jesus has a real enemy, which means that we have a real enemy. From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we’re seeing that two sides are being set up. These two sides can be described as two kingdoms. These are the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of this World. One helpful way to gauge what is happening as we watch Jesus’ ministry unfold is to ask how these kingdoms are coming into conflict.

Satan is obviously working to build the Kingdom of this World, and this is what he is trying to tempt Jesus to embrace. This kingdom focuses on human beings. On our pleasure, power, and prestige. In this kingdom, everything you do is for your own sake or for the sake of other human beings. You can work to make this kingdom anything you want it to be, but its security and stability all depend on your efforts. And it ultimately leads nowhere.

3.     What does the Kingdom of this World look like in your own experience? Where are you most drawn to it? In what ways are you participating in this kingdom?

The Kingdom of God

Jesus’ Kingdom, on the other hand, stands opposed to virtually everything that human beings seek to attain. In this Kingdom, God is King. Everything you do is directed toward his glory. In this kingdom, you are not responsible for its security and stability, but you do need to submit to something outside of your own control.

The Kingdom of God is real, but it’s not geographical. At heart, these are kingdoms of allegiance. Your allegiance is pledged, so to speak, to one of two kings, to the building of one of two kingdoms. Jesus is being tested as to which Kingdom he will pursue, and we have the same choice to make today.

4.     In what ways have you experienced the Kingdom of God? If it’s not a geographical kingdom, where do you see this kingdom showing up? In what ways are you participating in this kingdom?

The One Who Succeeds

As we follow Jesus in this spiritual battle, we need to acknowledge that each of these temptations have already been failed by Israel. As a nation, they rejected God’s Kingdom and pursued their own. But we are no different. We also fail in all of these temptations. We fail to live by the Word of God, to pursue his Kingdom. We find the pull toward the Kingdom of this World irresistible.  

But the point isn’t that Israel has failed these tests, nor that we have failed. Luke is telling us this story so that we will understand that Jesus has covered every temptation we’ve fallen into. The point is that Jesus has fulfilled it. Luke relates this story so that as the story continues, we will recognize that when Jesus offers to take the place of our sin, he does so as one who has faithfully fulfilled everything God calls his people to.

5.     What is the takeaway from all of this? What are we learning about Jesus through this early chapter of his ministry? What difference does it make for you, right now?

6.     Spend some time in prayer. Thank God for the faithfulness of Jesus. Pray that he would give you the grace to renounce Satan and the Kingdom of this World and to instead pursue Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Key Question

Which Kingdom are you actively pursuing: the Kingdom of this World or the Kingdom of God? Explain your answer.