Matt. 4:1-11, The Man Christ Jesus (3)

Again, if we ask how the Almighty God could become the weakness of Man, the technical answer is, the virgin birth.  The sinful nature was carried through the earthly parents.  But Christ was conceived through the work of God in an earthly mother, thus protecting Him from the sinful nature.  The Bible calls Him the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45).  As in Adam all became sinners and death was passed to all men, so through the Last Adam, who did not fail the “test” as Adam did, all who come to Him in faith receive life everlasting.

Now we just said that Jesus was protected from the sinful nature.  So, you might think that Jesus did not experience the fullness of temptation.  The “test” He passed was not as real a test as what Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden.  Wrong!

Heb. 4:15 says Jesus was tempted in all “points” as we are, yet without sin.  How can this be since Christ was never married, had no children, no record of a job (though we suspect He was with Joseph in the carpenter shop), and certainly didn’t have my job, and so forth!

Remember that the enticements to sin are three: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (1 John 2:16).  This is all that is in the world.  Adam in the Garden of Eden experienced these and sinned.  The fruit was good for food (lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and would make him wise like God (pride of life). 

The last Adam experienced these without sin (Matt. 4:1-11).  To turn the stones to bread was a test through His flesh, having not eaten for 40 days.  Would He use His divine power to meet His earthly need?  Or would He do the will of the Father?  Satan showed Him and offered Him all the kingdoms of the earth, a test through His eyes.  Then Satan challenged Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, an appeal to pride.  Satan even quoted Scripture.  Jesus met every test. 

Remember: the fact He never succumbed to the temptation means He experienced it to the max in every area.  In that way He was “made perfect” (proven fully mature) through sufferings.  This was the Father’s will: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10).  It was fulfilled in the earthly life of the Son: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). 

This is incredible for us to think about. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (Heb. 2:18).  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).